Failure is not Fatal
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“Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62, NIV).
Peter was so sure of his strength: though others would forsake Christ, he never would. No way! “I’ll go to prison with you; I’ll die for you,” he told his Master. And then he failed miserably to live up to his own expectations. Can you identify with Peter? I sure can. “I’m going to be the best mother,” I told myself before I had children. Now years down the road, I realize that I also failed to live up to my expectations.
When I’m tempted to wallow in guilt, I remember these comforting words:
When we can accept our limitations and imperfections, we are better able to relinquish total control and turn the uncontrollable over to God. Scourging ourselves for imperfect mothering simply adds to the pile. Children are better off with an imperfect parent than one who wallows in continuous guilt. Chances are we did the best we could with what we were given. All of us come from dysfunctional families. (1)
“The sense of the irreparable is apt to make us despair,” writes Oswald Chambers. “That opportunity is lost forever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next thing. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with him.” (2)
Winston Churchill said, “failure is never fatal. Courage is what counts.” Courage to confess our mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Courage to move on. Courage to reach out to others.
Jesus said to Peter, “So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers” (Luke 22:32, Application Study Bible).
Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action. (3)
Father, You’re not surprised by my failure. Thank you for the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses me from all sin. Thank you for using all things, even my failures, for good and for giving me the grace to move on.
References: (1) Dolores Curran, “What to do when your Kids take on your faults,” Our Family, May 1995; (2 & 3) Oswald Chambers, Devotions for Morning and Evening, p. 100.
Questions: How do you handle failure? How will giving your problem over to God change your outlook? What do you need courage for today?
About the Author Helen Lescheid
Tags: Christ, comforting, courage, dysfunctional, failed, guilt, helen lescheid, imperfections, limitations, Oswald Chambers, strength, tempted, wept, Winston Churchill
8 Responses to “Failure is not Fatal”
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i am praying for you
let go and let God.
let go and let God.
to let go and give it to God.
Thank you so much for this.. I have struggled with this for the past 3 years, and God has been working on me to let go of the past. Pls lift up a prayer for me, if you happen to read this! Anyway, God bless you for writing such a wonderful devotional, that not only humbles, but challenges and convicts. God bless everyone.
I ask God to forgive me
Wonderful!! Thank you so much. We all have things that we regret from the past (especially if we are parents, right?) I have a tendency to go toward perfectionism and I berate myself more often than I would like to admit.
Thank you, again for your great devotion.
Dear Gilda,
I will think of you and pray for you. I don’t know the answers but I know that God does. He has a plan for you
How BEAUTIFUL are the feet of those who bring GOOD NEWS! This devotional TRULY encouraged my heart today! I have a five yr. old and screamed at her twice last week. I never EVER want to do that but found that I did and have, (infrequently, Thank God) before. It is SO very true that the guilt of failure afteward can almost be worse than what we have done wrong. This ministry has been a great encouragement to me since joining and I pray the Lord will BLESS you ALL!!! :)
My aim is to be perfect; however it’s not humanly possible. Christ walked the earth and gave one example after another of how we can at least “try” to be perfect and live life according to God’s plan. It doesn’t change my desire to want to be perfect though. Thank you for this reminder that it is OK to be normal, and that God forgives us for our short comings. Thank the Lord that His arm is never too short. Praise God!