Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. We can’t be successful all the time so we need to get used to the occasional failure. In fact, something is only considered a failure when we label it that way. It might be better to describe it as a learning experience.
Insurance against failure
We realise that things will sometimes go wrong in our life and that’s why we take out insurance. I can think of an example in my life when insurance was really needed. One morning I was in our home and painting some timber window frames that extended to the floor. I knelt down too close to the window and my knee went through a glass panel. We were going out that night and I was getting ready. When I put on my shoes I put my foot up onto the toilet seat to do up my shoelace. That broke the seat and I thought that was the end of my bad luck.
Once I had finished dressing I wanted to check my appearance. We didn’t have a full length mirror so I stood up on the edge of the bath to look in the higher bathroom mirror. The heel of my shoe was against the glass shower screen and it cracked over its full height. After all that I felt like a drink so poured myself a cold one in a heavy based glass. It slipped out of my hand and went straight through a low level glass table top. When I rang the insurance company they confirmed that they would cover all of those incidents but then they said, “Next time don’t save them up and notify us when they happen”. I said, “I am, they all happened today”.
Matthew 6:34 – Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Fortunately not every day is like that but one thing is worth noting. Thanks to the insurance it turned out alright in the end.
God provides insurance
When it comes to our spiritual life it is God who provides insurance. But that is only if we meet the terms of our insurance policy. That policy was written at the time that Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. By God’s grace we will have eternal life if we believe in and try to follow the example set by Jesus.
1 Peter 5:10 – And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The insurance provided by God protects you against all kinds of loss or failure. It is available to everyone who has absolute faith. It calls for complete trust in God and genuine heartfelt prayer (see my post titled “The power of prayer”).
Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
In the past I rarely prayed and when I did it was not entirely genuine or heartfelt. I can’t promise that you will receive what you are seeking when you pray. Only God can do that but he does recognise your cries for help. Nowadays my prayers have more meaning and because I truly believe I am more likely to receive his mercy and guidance. There is no guarantee that your prayers, or mine, will be immediately answered. But one thing is sure, the more that you pray in a genuine and heartfelt manner the more likely you will find what you need.
Mark 11:24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Feeling like a failure
I know that I have felt like a failure when things have gone wrong in my life. It’s not good to feel that way and sometimes I have lashed out at others or blamed them for my situation. That was an attempt to divert attention away from my own failings. It can be hard to face up to the truth and to realise or accept your faults.
Possibly you feel that you are a failure in that you have not been as successful as other people you know. That belief is damaging to your psychological well-being and arises out of jealousy. In fact, your job success, financial status and knowledge are not really that important. The important things in life are family, friends and being a good person (see my posts “Family and friends” and “It’s not about me”). It’s something you will appreciate later in your life.
Luke 12:15 – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
If you feel that you have failed due to your inappropriate behaviour then that is the first step towards recovery. You are recognising that something needs to change. When someone says to me that they are unhappy with their behaviour I say, “That shows that you are a good person. You are recognising what you see as your faults and you wish to change for the better. Many other people do things that are wrong and are blissfully unaware.”
Now it may seem that being blissfully unaware is a good thing, but it’s not. What brings improvement is awareness and self-reflection. Being “blissfully” unaware keeps you from seeking better relationships and greater peace in your life.
How Christian belief brings you peace
In my post titled “Trusting God” I noted that we need to let go of our worries, anger, fear, bitterness and greed. If we have belief in Jesus we can detach from those earthly concerns. We can place our trust in a higher power by offloading all those negative feelings onto Jesus.
Psalm 32:10 – Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Feeling like a failure is deeply personal and makes you depressed. You may be at your lowest point but remember that it is then that Jesus lifts us up. Believing in Jesus, following his teachings and trusting God leads to absolute peace of mind.
Psalm 145:14 – The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
Isaiah 26:3 – You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
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