Failure is a Key Component in Growth
Thoughts of failure will almost always stir up feelings of anxiety and fear; if I fail, what will others think of me? But realize that failure is sometimes engineered by God for a purpose—so you’ll recognize your need to trust the Lord in every aspect of your life. Whether your failure relates to a particular sin that seems impossible to conquer, a disastrous relationship, or an unsuccessful venture into ministry or business, it helps you understand how absolutely dependent you should be upon God in every detail. Of course, this is often a hard learned lesson. As fallen, sinful human beings, we are used to striking out on our own—even when we are attempting to do something in the savior’s name. But when we do so in our own strength—rather than trusting him—failure is imminent. Friend don’t make that mistake. Learn the invaluable lesson and depend upon God in everything you do. Because when you trust him for your success, you will experience an incredible freedom and peace. And reaching that point will make every failure worthwhile.
–Charles Stanley
That first sentence above, “If I fail, what will others think?” had often plagued me until I realized, as Dr. Stanley went on to articulate, that our loving God uses our failures to move us forward; to grow us in Christlikeness. It is a hard lesson, indeed, but one that He in His infinite wisdom and loving grace can do the most with, in our lives. Why not commit your failures to Him? Look to Him to graciously make the most of them; see that in the end, your failure does not have the last word, but rather was a stepping stone. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics