Failure

Failure is a word that arouses emotions of all types within each of us. I just talked this week with a friend who is swimming in the sea of failure. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, and a haunting in your spirit. Scripture is replete with stories of failure. From the murder of Abel, to the denial of Jesus by Peter, failure finds its place in the markings of history. The failure of Adam and Eve in the Garden paved the way for rest of us. King David failed to remember who he was and made choices that piled failure upon failure. King Solomon prayed for wisdom, then failed to utilize that wisdom to follow God's directives for the king. Judas Iscariot failed to trust in Christ and found himself overwhelmed with his own failure. Praise the Lord for grace. Praise the Lord for His patience toward us-He does not treat mankind as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). God's mercy and grace to us does not negate our responsibility regarding failure. King David was responsible for his sins. Peter's failure led to tears of repentance. I believe the Lord wants us to move forward from the failure. Satan would seek to establish a stronghold of shame, false guilt and doubt at the point of failure. The Lord would have us to move forward in faith, confident of His amazing grace. Hebrews 10: 39-we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. 2 Peter three speaks of 'looking forward'. The ability to fail forward is the result of the Good Shepherd who walks before us, with us, and behind us.