Daily Devotion for February 3, 2006

FAILING

 

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again… Proverbs 24:16

 

When I was younger I was so afraid of failing at something. When I went to tennis tournaments my nerves were just shot because I was so worried about failing. Failing was not an option that I enjoyed and to fail at something meant that I was a failure. But as I have grown older and matured a bit, I have found that, in order to succeed, I must take chances, and because I take chances I may fail, but that does not mean I am a failure. We are only failures if we let those failures keep us down. If we can learn from them and get back up and try again, then there is growth.

 

This holds true for our spiritual growth as well. For our faith to grow it must be tested. We may not always pass the test that God puts before us, but if we learn nothing from our failures our growth is stunted. Today's verse says, "For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again." If we let an object keep us down and block our way, we can never go forward. If we rise up and overcome the object that is blocking us then we may continue to go forward. While I still do not enjoy failing, I have come to learn that failure provides chances for me to grow, and what is more joyful than growing in our relationship with God!

 

Prayer
Lord, I thank you for showing me that failure can lead to growth, and that through growth I may come to know you better and to serve you better. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
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