Failure

In the past two weeks, I have probably accomplished more than usual, as measured by my ability to complete the tasks I have planned. Though I checked off so many things, I still felt like a failure.  Have you had those times, when no matter how much you did just wasn’t good enough?  Sometimes it’s the comparison to others on social media where we just can’t compete with the photoshopped, edited, filtered, Instagram lives of others.  Sometimes it’s a failure to meet personal standards or goals.  Regardless of the measuring rod, it is obvious that real life is a failure.  Thankfully, I have also had some encouraging reminders this week.  

I am a failure.  I am constantly failing to live up to the perfection required by God. As we are reminded in Psalm 14:2-3, “The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understands, who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” and in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  No one can meet God’s standard of perfection.  I will not be a perfect wife or mother because I cannot be a perfect human.  Thankfully, in my failure, the beauty of God’s grace shines through.  

Where I fail, Jesus succeeds.  I am imperfect and unacceptable before God, but Jesus is perfect, holy, righteous, and acceptable in God’s sight.  Jesus came and took my place.  “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we now received reconciliation...There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 5:10-11, 8:1)  We are made right with God by the blood of Christ.  He took away my sin and condemnation.  My failures are covered by His blood so I can be reconciled to God.  He now stands ready to intercede on my behalf as it says in Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”   

Life is a journey on which we are learning as we go.  I am thankful to have a partner on this journey who is willing to point out when I am being overly emotional and irrational.  He is willing to speak hard truth at me and is also there to hold me, let me cry, and build me back up with his encouragement.  We all need someone like that in our lives, who will speak the truth in love.  We are told in Colossians 3:18-19, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”  God’s design for marriage is that the man and woman work and live together in complement to one another.  We both have different roles and responsibilities that help the other to be successful in theirs.  When facing failure, we can point each other to Christ, the one who has overcome those failures.  If you are not married, I would encourage you to seek out a godly older woman who can be that person in your life.  This is why we need the Church; as we are told in Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  

Our life is a journey, but we are not meant to walk it alone!  We were made for communion with God and with one another.  We can help each other remember the grace of God and be thankful.  The next time that we feel that failure heavy upon us, we can be reminded that Jesus came to die for our sin and failure.  We could never succeed, but Jesus has succeeded in our salvation.  We cannot trust in ourselves or succeed on our own, but “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)