POST 11: You Are More Than Your Failure
POST 11
You Are More Than Your Failure
I don’t want to mess up, but I guess everyone has a fear of failure. So I feel like if I am failing or am not doing as great, I worry about it. I don’t want to be all negative and just think that there is no way out, you know? I hate having that feeling of being stuck. And I think that’s how everyone at my school feels.
Daniel
Have you ever failed so hard or so badly you didn’t know if you would be able to recover?
Maybe you failed a test or a class. Maybe you failed in a relationship. Maybe you failed to be admitted into a prestigious program. Maybe you simply failed to get up on time and missed the bus for school, just another failure in a long list of failures. No matter your failure, chances are you felt crushed.
Sometimes failure can feel like forever, like there can’t be any redeeming quality to it. It’s as if from now on, failure is who you are and nothing else matters.
We’re all in danger of falling into this unhealthy pattern. We internalize this identity and can’t see beyond it. But what if failure doesn’t have to be the end? What if we can learn from our failures and move forward more informed and compassionate than before?
You can find great comfort in knowing that you are more than your failure because failure happens to everyone. We all experience it at one point or another, and yet, we almost always find a way to move on. When we see beyond a failure to the lesson learned or the opportunity gained, we begin to understand that failure is not the end; it’s simply a new beginning.
Here’s one truth we can hold on to in the midst of our failures: God is tenderly holding us even—maybe especially—when we fail. God is dusting us off and helping us back to our feet. We’re not left behind, forgotten, or worthless.
Think of Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. We see in Scripture that he had plenty of failures, yet each time we see Jesus patiently and lovingly instructing him instead of rejecting him. One example is when the disciples witnessed Jesus walking on water. Peter decided to give it a try—and he was doing great! Until he took his eyes off Jesus and became fearful of all the waves. Soon he started to sink! But Jesus reached out his hand and rescued Peter. (Read the rest of the story in Matthew 14:22–33.)
When you experience a failure, you can imagine Jesus reaching out his hand to you as well. He will help you back up and help you to keep walking forward.
READING GOD’S WORD
A person’s steps are made secure by the LORD
when they delight in his way.
Though they trip up, they won’t be thrown down,
because the LORD holds their hand. (Psalm 37:23–24)
The Lord supports all who fall down,
straightens up all who are bent low. (Psalm 145:14)
Journaling Questions
When have you recently experienced failure? How did you feel in that moment?
What are some positive outcomes of failure?
What do you think God thinks of you when you fail? How might knowing what God actually thinks of you in the face of failure change the way you see yourself in your mistakes and missteps?
Pray This Prayer
God, failure often feels like an embarrassing end. It doesn’t feel good. Sometimes I’m not even sure how to move past the failure. But no matter what, when I experience failure, I pray the Holy Spirit will remind me of my true identity as a beloved child of God. I am more than my failures, and I don’t have to hide or feel ashamed. Thank you for approving of me and loving me before, during, and after I fail. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Sometimes we fear failure so much that we don’t even attempt certain tasks or activities. Think of a goal you can set or an activity you can try that you’ve been avoiding due to fear of failure. Tell someone about it and give it a try! Even if you fail, remember that you are more than your failure. In fact, sometimes the real failure is in choosing never to try! You’re succeeding simply by taking the risk to start.
THE TAKEAWAY
Failure isn’t just an end—it can be a beautiful beginning.