Prepare Our Hearts

If there’s any subject matter I could say I know most about, the area I know enough to say I do not need to learn more, it would be the area of failure in one’s Christian walk.  Yes, there have been great triumphs, great victories. However, to really understand grace, to really understand the nature of God you must first understand failure. Failure points us to our humanity. It points us to our weaknesses. It shows us our need for His grace – His unmerited favor, forgiveness and kindness.

When I am weak I see His strength. When I am strong I mistakenly think I have no need for God. It’s in my weakness that I run to His arms. Do you too have that happen, when things are going so well, do you talk to God? Joyce Meyer says, “Go to the throne not the phone.” I’m always so horizontal, I could be a lot more vertical in my life!! What would it look like if I ran to Him with all the good things? When things are going great?

My failures could fill a book. I’ve failed over and over again in my marriage, in my parenting, in my friendships, in church relationships, with family members. Do you see a pattern of people pursuing friendships with you or not? Do your family members invite you to stuff? Or are you always trying to push your way in somewhere and discovering later that you didn’t really fit? Maybe you’re like me and you can say, “When it comes to people I’m a total failure”.

I’m not saying all this for a pity party it’s just something I’ve observed. And the best part of knowing you don’t fit with people is that moment when you realize the only one you can truly count on accepting you is Jesus Christ. However, when we discover that every single person on the planet does not like us, love us, or want to be around us, it can be a wakeup call. You might begin to question what God thinks about you, if His church members do not really love you. This is a pivotal moment! Ask yourself, “Who does God say I am?”

Galatians 3:26

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

God says you are a son (or a daughter) of His because of your faith in Jesus! You are accepted because of that faith! You are chosen because of His mercy! You are His!

However, you are also caught in a struggle, you are still on this earth, in this body, in this flesh. You are still living where you will have to face temptation, persecution, and weakness. You are still in a place where you have many faults and perfection is unachievable.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Romans 7:15-20 NRSV

Paul says, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me”.

Now, you know you are not perfect, but what about the people you are failing in relationships with? Are they perfect? Are you expecting them to be, then upset with them because they are not? I think our relationships fail because of our unrealistic expectations. We are expecting more than a flawed human being can give. When we consider who we are in Christ and then who we are in this life, and our desperate need for His mercy we should remember those around us also need His strength in their weakness. If you’re failing miserably at relationships think about that, think about who He says you are, and who He says your friends, or family members are to Him.

Remember failure is not always a bad thing. It can put us onto the straight narrow path. It can show us the right way! Check out this article on some famous people who have failed and look where they ended up. Failure does not have to be the end, it can be the beginning of something even better!

8 Famous People Who Failed At First