How can God bring success from our failure? - Failure - TouchPoints

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.