Unfortunately, failure is frequent. We don’t like to admit it, but it’s true.

I’m not saying this to make you feel bad. I’m saying it to draw your attention to something good.

God can use even the failures of his people for his good purposes. As we read through the Bible, we find a cacophony of human sin and mistakes. Kings mess up and God’s people repeatedly fall into idolatry.

Yet in and through it all God works. His success as Almighty God is not dependent on our success. That is such good news!

In Romans 8:28, Paul writes: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

He is doing this in ALL things, the Bible says—not SOME things, or just those things that make us feel like spiritual superstars.

No, ALL things.

William Gurnall puts it succinctly: “God can, in fact, use His saints’ failures to strengthen their faith, which, like a tree, stands stronger for the shaking.”*

Not only can God work through even your failures, but he can use them to strengthen your faith for the living of difficult days.

Have you failed at something? Me too.

Take heart, trust that our Lord is in fact almighty, and keep going in love.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

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Notes:

–Most recent podcast: In uncertain times (and in choppy waters) we need an anchor. This is the topic of an insightful talk by (and Q & A with) the Rev. Dr. Clyde Ervine on The Pulse Podcast that I host. Click here to listen, or tune in wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

–William Gurnall, ed. James S. Bell Jr., The Christian in Complete Armour (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), entry for Feb 22)

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.