We fail so many times in life, may it be by making the wrong decisions and ending up with the dire consequences thereof.
One of those that happen a lot is failing due to sin. We all have a past, things we did that made us sinners, and even though we received forgiveness and moved on, we still sometimes fall. Falling back or failing in something is part of life. It is not how we fall but rather how we stand up and what we do about it.
There are two ways we can look at this. Many times, we sin, knowing that what we are about to do is wrong, but we still do it and then afterwards feel bad and ask forgiveness. The other way is acting without thinking, instantly doing something we regret, taking us back to our past. These are the type of things satan use as weaknesses against us, trying to bring us down. I call them triggers.
On the first part, we need to understand that doing something knowingly while we have a choice, is not an excuse and it is not an accident. For example, when someone watches porn, knowing before the time that it is wrong, and yet continue to do it day after day. We do need to address this and do everything in our power to make the right choices.
On the second part, together with our past and satan using these triggers against us, we sometimes quickly and instantly do things without thinking about it. These triggers need to be seen for what it is, triggers, not destroyers. Do not allow it to destroy your life, do not let it get you down and do not give up on yourself and your life.
Also, do not allow the judgement of others to break you break down and then give up. You are human after all! Don’t for one moment think that those judging you are free from mistakes, they also fail, they also make poor decisions and fall. Again, it is not about the fact that you fall, but rather how you get up and move on.
When you fail, fail forward! Do not linger on your failures and mistakes and do not go back into the past, thinking that your old version of you is back, because it is not. When you accepted Jesus into your life you became a new creation in Christ, the old is gone! So, get up and move on.
If you are dealing with a family member who struggles with sin, don’t give up on them, don’t push them away, instead, minster to them, help them get back on their feet and help them to fail forward. Remember, none of us are without sin, we all make mistakes. Let us not judge!
The same goes for people who did not necessarily sinned, but simply made bad decisions or a decision that didn’t work out. If you failed, fail forward! You may fail, but you are never a failure!
I want to give you 2 Chronicles 15:7: Be strong and do not give up. Also, remember what we learn from 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Speak Psalm 62:2 over your life when you made a mistake and feel that you failed: God is my rock; I will not be defeated.
So, remember, when you fail, fail forward. Keep your eyes on the empty cross and the victory that came with it.
God bless you, Jaco van As