Overcoming Failure

Failure. It's a natural part of being human. Everyone fails, even those who project a seemingly perfect image to the world. It's a hard thing. No one enjoys failing. Failure often quickly turns into an ever-deepening despair. "I was inconsiderate toward that person" turns into "I fail to love people well", which turns into "I'm a horrible person", "I'll never be good enough", "No one could ever love me", and so on. We can't let our failures consume us. Beating ourselves up over our failures does nothing to help us, it only tempts us to fall into believing the lie that no one could ever love us. Christ has loved you. He still loves you when you fail. He will love you through the billions of failures in your lifetime.

Of course, it would be a huge mistake to ignore our failures. We are not perfect, our failures must be acknowledged. Rather than dwelling on them, though, we need to ask for forgiveness (when relevant) and ask God to help us improve. We need His help to change.  This is something I am working on.  I fail a lot and I tend to dwell on my failures.  I have to remind myself not to sit in a puddle and bemoan my shortcomings, but ask God to help me change.

When you fail a math test, you want to do better next time. You get a better score by studying, not by giving in to despair and telling yourself "I'm stupid. I can't do this." What do you do if you have tried but simply cannot understand? You get a tutor - someone to help you. We need a tutor - the Holy Spirit - to help us overcome our failures. It's the only way we can pass the math test - overcome the failures that discourage us.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6

This applies to failure. We know our God is more powerful than we could ever imagine. He can save us from our failures. If we ask Him, He will give us peace. And not just "well-I-guess-it-will-be-okay peace", but peace so all-encompassing that we cannot comprehend it.

Praise God that we do not have to be perfect. Even in our worst failures, we are covered by His incredible grace.