Question 1

What causes failure?

Accepted Answer

Numbers 14:22“Not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice.”Joshua 7:3-12Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? . . .” But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! . . . That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat.”Isaiah 59:2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.Jeremiah 19:15“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will bring disaster upon this city and its surrounding towns as I promised, because you have stubbornly refused to listen to me.’”Zephaniah 1:17“Because you have sinned against the Lord, I will make you grope around like the blind. Your blood will be poured into the dust, and your bodies will lie rotting on the ground.”Romans 2:5-6Because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done.Hebrews 4:6So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.Sin is the cause of many failures. God tells us to live a certain way for a very good reason: to help us make the most of life now and into eternity. Sin causes failure because it is living contrary to God’s plan, which is always best for us. God knows the best way to succeed in life because he created life. We fail when we go against God’s Word and try to live our own way.Joshua 8:14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn’t realize there was an ambush behind the town.When we overreact or act impulsively, we may move in the wrong direction and make more mistakes.Proverbs 19:2-3Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.Impatience can lead to poor life choices. When we hurry to act without knowing all the facts, we will often fail to do what we should.Genesis 13:10-13Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. . . . Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. . . . So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.Genesis 25:29-34One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” . . . “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” . . . So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.Failure often comes when we pursue our own agendas for purely selfish reasons. When our choices are guided primarily by selfish ambition or a desire for personal gratification, we will likely make foolish decisions that lead to failure.1 Kings 12:1-11Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.” . . . Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. “What is your advice?” he asked them. . . . The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Rejecting the advice of proven counselors can lead to failure.

Question 2

What is failure in God’s eyes?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 34:6-7The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.”Malachi 3:5“At that time I will put you on trial. . . . I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.Failure in God’s eyes involves not living the way he created us to live, which requires loving God and loving others. God gave us the gift of life and designed us to have a relationship with him. Our greatest failure would be to reject that way of life and to reject the God who gave us life.

Question 3

What must I learn about failure?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:12-13The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”2 Corinthians 12:9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.Certainly, we must learn to live with failure. Everyone has weaknesses. The key to character is not how little we fail but how we respond to failure. Adam and Eve, for example, responded to their failure by blaming others rather than admitting their wrong and seeking forgiveness. In contrast, David repented of his sin and failure (see Psalm 51) as did Peter (see Luke 22:61–62).Jonah 1:3Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.We should not make the mistake of trying to run from God and his will. That will lead to the worst kind of failure.Colossians 3:23-24Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.Our sense of failure may wrongfully be determined by the approval—or lack of approval—of others. Scripture reminds us to define success in terms of our faithfulness to God and that we should see all good service and hard work as being done for him. God will reward our faithfulness even if we fail in the eyes of the world.Genesis 4:6-7“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”Proverbs 29:1Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.If we are confronted about our mistakes or failures, we should consider the source and the substance of the criticism, and then reflect on the input and apply lessons for the future.Judges 16:17, 21, 28Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. . . . So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. . . . Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”God can still use us despite our failures. Although Samson failed often, in the end God still used him mightily.Matthew 26:74-75Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.John 21:15-19After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” . . . Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”Following Jesus means allowing him to forgive our failures so we can move on and experience joy and success. Jesus restored Peter to fellowship even after his most painful failure.

Question 4

How can I keep from failing?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 16:26“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”If we managed a successful business, raised a good family, won all kinds of community awards, and retired comfortably, we might say life had been a success. But even the good can lead to failure if they crowd out what is the greatest and of utmost importance—a relationship with God. Life apart from God now means life apart from him for eternity. And because God is good and perfect, life apart from God also means life apart from all that is good and perfect. We fail when we neglect or ignore God and do not discover what a relationship with God means for our future.Numbers 14:22“Not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice.”Matthew 7:24-27“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”Hebrews 4:6So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.Failure results when we ignore God’s voice and disobey his Word. The Bible reveals God’s instructions for success and peace in this life; it provides the foundation upon which we can build our lives. We can prevent much failure by reading the Bible and building our lives on its principles.Joshua 7:3-12Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? . . .” But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! . . . That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat.”Initially, we may not understand the true cause of our failure. In this situation, Joshua learned that the real cause of his failure was not a faulty battle plan but a greedy soldier whose deception brought disaster on the army. This insight, however, only came to Joshua as he sought God’s direction and counsel in assessing the failure. We should never underestimate God’s desire and ability to show us when a spiritual problem has caused us to fail.Psalm 37:23-24The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.Proverbs 24:16The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.Micah 7:8Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.We should not let failure discourage us. Instead, we should see failure as a way to growth and maturity. Success is much sweeter when we have overcome failure.Joshua 8:1Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.”1 Chronicles 28:20Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.”Giving up is a sure way to fail. Courage and perseverance help prevent failure, especially if we know God approves of what we are doing.Proverbs 15:22Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.Good advice helps prevent failure. A concert of wise counsel makes good music for success.Lamentations 3:23Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.God’s great faithfulness not only helps us to avoid failure; it helps us to start over if we do fail. When we fail to honor or obey God, we should ask him for forgiveness and begin afresh.Isaiah 42:23Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?We can avoid failure by learning from the mistakes of the past.

Question 5

When I have failed, how do I get past it?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 4:15-16This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.We should realize that God’s work is not limited by our failures. He does not reject us in our weakness but rather embraces us so we can receive strength to be all he intended us to be. When failure drives us into the arms of God, then our failures are truly successes.1 John 2:1-2My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.Our sins and failures don’t surprise God. God gave his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of our sins and bring us back into full fellowship with him. The wonder of God’s Good News is that our failures provide an opportunity to display God’s greatest success.Proverbs 24:16The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.Micah 7:8Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.2 Corinthians 4:9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.When we fail and fall, we must get up again. Many of life’s inspiring success stories come from people who failed many times but never gave up. Most important, we should never give up on our relationship with God, who promises us ultimate victory over all our trials in eternal life.1 Kings 8:22-23, 33-34Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, and he prayed . . . “If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.”Ezekiel 33:11“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?”If a failure is the result of something we did wrong, turning to God and admitting our sin to him is the first and best response we can make. God doesn’t enjoy punishing his children, but he rejoices in their repentance.1 Corinthians 10:6-7These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did.Philippians 3:13-14No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.We should remember that failures can be helpful; they can teach us important lessons about what to avoid in the future. We need not repeat our mistakes or the mistakes we recognize in others! The apostle Paul failed often, especially when he was persecuting the followers of Jesus; but he put his past behind him and moved ahead in service of Christ.Joshua 8:1Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.”We shouldn’t let our fear of failure keep us from trying again. Failure wins when we accept defeat and stop trying.2 Timothy 2:12If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.Failure doesn’t have to be the end—it can give rise to a new beginning. We can recover and move on.Lamentations 3:23Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.We all long for a new start, a clean slate, a chance to begin again. That’s why many people get excited about New Year’s resolutions. But every day is a new start when it comes to God’s mercy. Every day we can ask forgiveness for our sins, and then he pours his mercy into us, cleansing us from the inside out. When that happens, he doesn’t see any sin in us. He doesn’t see our failures; he sees us as his masterpieces. By God’s grace and love we are freed from the burden of sin and failure so that we can start fresh, both in our eyes and his. To lead others to experience true life change, we must embrace God’s life-changing mercy.Hebrews 12:10-11Our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.Our failures don’t determine our identity or worth; they simply provide feedback on how we are doing at the moment. Because God has adopted us as his children, he uses our failures to train us, to reveal his love, and to hone our character. Failure is not a dead end. In Christ, it can become the doorway to positive and lasting change.

Question 6

How does God react to my failures?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 33:14The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”2 Corinthians 12:8-9Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.If what we are doing is part of God’s plan for us, then God will personally lead the way and redeem our mistakes for his glory and purpose. Recognizing our weakness and need for God is the first step to inviting his power into our lives. God is delighted when we turn to him.Psalm 94:18I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.Psalm 121:3-4He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.The God who never sleeps is watching over us. He is always ready to rescue us at a moment’s notice.Matthew 1:1This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:God is not limited by our personal failures. David was a godly man, but a man of many failures. Yet God considered him a man after his own heart and chose him to be an ancestor of Jesus. God chooses to work through imperfect people to accomplish his perfect purposes on earth.Jude 1:24-25Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.We should train ourselves to live by God’s definition of failure and success. The world defines success as an abundance of achievements and possessions. It defines failure as a lack of achievements and possessions. God defines success as obedience to him, which results in love, godly character, godly living, salvation, and eternity with him. God defines failure as rejecting him. If we live by God’s definition of success, our failures will only ever be temporary.

Question 7

Will God ever fail me?

Accepted Answer

Lamentations 3:22The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.Romans 8:35-39I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.1 Corinthians 13:8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!God’s love is unconditional, which means he will never fail to love us, care for us, and offer us the gift of eternal life. We should embrace that love! God paid a great price to save us from our sins, and he will always lift us up when we fall in our journey to becoming more like him.Lamentations 3:23Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.2 Timothy 2:13If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.We can always depend on God’s faithfulness.Zephaniah 3:5The Lord is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.We can always depend on God’s justice to come through in the end.Isaiah 51:6“Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!”We can always depend on God’s gift of salvation and his eternal righteous rule.Joshua 1:8-9“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”1 Chronicles 28:20Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.”Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”We can always depend on God’s presence.Hosea 14:8“O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.”Matthew 6:26“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”We can always depend on God’s provision.Joshua 23:14“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!”Psalm 119:160The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.Isaiah 55:10-11“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”1 Peter 1:24-25As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.We can always depend on the truth of God’s Word.Numbers 23:19“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”1 Kings 8:56“Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.”Ephesians 1:13-14Now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.We can always depend on God to keep his promises.

Question 8

Does failure make God love me less?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 2:17-18Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.Hebrews 4:15-16This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.God loves us unconditionally. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, entered fully into human experience and knows our trials and temptations. While caring parents may be hurt or saddened by a child’s failure, that failure doesn’t make them love the child less. In fact, failure often awakens greater tenderness and support toward the child. In the same way, the Lord understands our weaknesses and failures and loves us in spite of them.

Question 9

Everyone else seems so successful; am I the only one who fails?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 9:20-21After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard. One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent.Genesis 20:2Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.Exodus 2:14-15The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.” And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.1 Samuel 8:1-3As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.2 Samuel 12:13Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”Luke 22:59-62About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.No one is exempt from failing. Even the heroes of biblical history such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, and Peter had firsthand experiences with failure. Failing does not mean we are substandard—only that we are human.

Question 10

Who or what will never fail?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 46:8-10“Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, you guilty ones. Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”1 Corinthians 13:8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!1 John 4:16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.God and his love never fail. God is love, and he promises that he will love us forever, and that our ability to love him and others will never end.

Question 11

How can God bring success from our failure?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 28:13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.Mark 14:72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.2 Corinthians 13:5-7Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority. We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority.Failure presents an opportunity for us to examine ourselves and find our flaws. If we are wise, we will ask God to use us despite our flaws. Foolish people will blame others, even God, for their flaws and then try to cover them up.1 Kings 8:33-34“If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.”Failure presents us with an opportunity for repentance, forgiveness, and restored fellowship with God. Those who pretend to be perfect think they don’t need God. Those who recognize their failings know they do. Failure inspires us to strengthen our reliance on God.Romans 5:20God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.Failure presents an opportunity for us to experience and appreciate God’s grace. When we fail desperately, we realize how desperately we need God’s help.Psalm 40:11-15Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.Failure presents us with an opportunity to trust God more fully.Mark 9:28-29When Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”Failure presents us with an opportunity to pray. When we have fallen in some way, the only way to look is up.Isaiah 42:18-20, 23“Listen, you who are deaf! Look and see, you blind! Who is as blind as my own people, my servant? Who is as deaf as my messenger? Who is as blind as my chosen people, the servant of the Lord? You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don’t really listen.” . . . Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?Jeremiah 44:9“Have you forgotten the sins of your ancestors, the sins of the kings and queens of Judah, and the sins you and your wives committed in Judah and Jerusalem?”Failure presents us with an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others.