Friday, June 5, 2009

I Hope You Fail...

"I hope you fail!"
This has got to be the most mean spirited and discouraging thing someone could wish on you or say to you...or is it?
Does God ever allow us to fail?
Does He even enable the failure to occur?
As we look through the old testament we see that His people constantly were failing and struggling, whether it was surviving a drought or becoming enslaved by a foreign power. So what is the common thread in these failures?
They always drew people back to God for their strength and reliance in Him.
When it comes down to it, any endeavor we undertake is a failure without God.
What about the failures that come when we are trying to serve Him and working for His kingdom first? Great question, I always think back to the old sports motivational quote that says, "that which does not kill us makes us stronger". Overcoming is a huge theme in the Bible.

Jeremiah 1:19 - "They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

So the next time you feel like you've failed take a moment to give everything you have and are to God, seek His heart and ask, "Am I doing this in my strength or His?"
Maybe when it comes down to it, the very thing you failed in was just too small for what God actually wants to use you in and it takes God sized dreams and reliance on Him for it to happen.
Then when it happens, He's the only one who can get credit...Think about it.

1 comment:

Nathaniel Dame said...

What an encouragement. That is so true. When we fail, God takes over. I got real sick a couple weeks ago in the midst of some real important projects... let's just say I had to learn that lesson!!

Hey we're actually working on building a resource library for youth leaders and youth pastors. I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in contributing any resources & joining the conversation.

The new (growing) library is here:
http://www.calledtoyouthministry.com/resources

And you can contribute your own resource here:
http://www.calledtoyouthministry.com/contribute

Would love to see what you might share! Blessings!!