Have you ever tried your hand at something and failed? Whether it's in the service of God or simply reaching for a personal goal in life, some of our efforts end up failing. However, there is beauty in failure, as we can learn from it.
There are times when failure is just a means for us to realise that something shouldn't be done, or should be done another way. At times, failure also means that we aren't ready yet, and we need to prepare more. All the time, failures are meant to draw us closer to our loving Father.
The Bible reveals various times when servants of God failed in one way or another. David failed to uphold God and sinned, which angered the Lord. Peter failed to stand up for Christ, and denied Him three times. Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement, and ended up parting ways. Yet, in all these things, God gave them a chance to serve Him again: David continued being Israel's beloved king, Peter became the disciple we read in Acts, and Paul kept serving the Lord unto death.
Have you ever failed in doing something for the Lord? Here are some Bible verses that will encourage you to try again:
Luke 22:31-32 (Jesus predicts Peter's denial) – "And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.'"
Psalm 32:1-5 (David experiences God's forgiveness) – "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. (Selah) I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Selah)"
Philippians 3:12-14 (Paul's encouragement) – "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
