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Purpose Without Apology

The Gift of Failure (5 Things Failure Teaches Us)

September 08, 2020 Lisa C. Gant Season 2 Episode 40
Purpose Without Apology
The Gift of Failure (5 Things Failure Teaches Us)
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Purpose Without Apology
The Gift of Failure (5 Things Failure Teaches Us)
Sep 08, 2020 Season 2 Episode 40
Lisa C. Gant

Guiding Scripture: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Everyone fails. No matter who you are or how much you’ve accomplished in life, you will eventually face an obstacle that is too much for you. How do we as believers respond when that happens? Is failure really the negative thing we believe it is, or is it really one of God’s greatest ways of teaching us?

  1. Lesson #1: Failure is often relative.
    • What seems like a failure to you can be a dream come true for someone else.
    • For example, you may consider it a curse to become an unwed mother, but a woman who is struggling with infertility would consider that same situation a blessing.
  2. Lesson #2: Failure is what you do, not who you are.
    • “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
  3. Lesson #3: Failure keeps us humble and dependent on God.
    • “‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!” (Luke 5:5-6)
  4. Lesson #4: Failure teaches us resilience.
    • “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” (Proverbs 24:16)
  5. Lesson #5: Failure allows us to experience God’s grace.
    • “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Action Step: Are there areas in your life where you feel like a failure? If so, why? How is God calling you to rethink those failures and submit them to Him? Pray this week and ask God to show you how to look at those areas differently.

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Show Notes

Guiding Scripture: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Everyone fails. No matter who you are or how much you’ve accomplished in life, you will eventually face an obstacle that is too much for you. How do we as believers respond when that happens? Is failure really the negative thing we believe it is, or is it really one of God’s greatest ways of teaching us?

  1. Lesson #1: Failure is often relative.
    • What seems like a failure to you can be a dream come true for someone else.
    • For example, you may consider it a curse to become an unwed mother, but a woman who is struggling with infertility would consider that same situation a blessing.
  2. Lesson #2: Failure is what you do, not who you are.
    • “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
  3. Lesson #3: Failure keeps us humble and dependent on God.
    • “‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!” (Luke 5:5-6)
  4. Lesson #4: Failure teaches us resilience.
    • “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” (Proverbs 24:16)
  5. Lesson #5: Failure allows us to experience God’s grace.
    • “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Action Step: Are there areas in your life where you feel like a failure? If so, why? How is God calling you to rethink those failures and submit them to Him? Pray this week and ask God to show you how to look at those areas differently.