By Failing We Learn True Success

Last updated on: March 24, 2026 at 6:27 am by Michele Howe

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By Failing We Learn True Success 2026-03-24T06:27:40-05:00 Michele Howe

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We All Depend On God's Strength

We All Depend On God’s Strength

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4: 15, 16

Failure and the fear of it are a perfect opportunity. A constant string of successes is a grave danger. We don’t tend to grow in humility and humanity through our success. Failure can lead us to dependence and trust in our successful and competent God. That is true success.

Edward Welch

Failure shows up in all sorts of shapes and sizes, doesn’t it? Sometimes failure is glaringly public and no one can miss it. At other times, failure is quite personal and private and we are the only ones who know what’s happening. But in both scenarios, we need to humbly depend on the grace of our competent God and trust him to supply what we need to live a life that honors him.

We Are All Dependent Upon God

Each of us must start to approach challenging situations from an eternal perspective and it will make all the difference. As we lean into the grace and strength of the Lord even in the midst of trying and troubling times, God promises to meet us there with his abundant help and sustaining grace. Success isn’t about our superhuman strength and accomplishments. Rather, it is recognizing our complete dependence about God’s faithfulness and power.

God Uses Our Failings To Transform Us

The truth is nothing about a difficult situation may ever change from our earthly perspective but we can choose to change the way we pray about our troubles. The more we view God as our nearby helper, guide, and sustainer, the more we begin to trust God despite the hardships that surround us. We start to view all of life…failures and all…through the lens of eternity. We discover daily the fresh ways God uses our weaknesses to continue molding us into the image of Jesus.

Failure Reveals Our Need For Christ

Truly, our failures help to equip us to become Jesus’ hands and feet in a broken and suffering world. And we begin to learn that God always supplies exactly the grace and the strength we require to love and serve those within our life. That truth alone is life-altering.

Take-away Action Thought

When I feel like a failure I will go to this passage of Scripture in Hebrews and meditate on its powerful truth. No matter what my circumstances, when I cry to the Lord for help and boldly ask, he will give me mercy and the grace in my time of need.

My Heart’s Cry to You, O Lord

Father, I’m feeling like such a failure again. Please help me to reframe my difficult situations from an eternal perspective. I know that as I view these hard times from the perspective that you are using each one to transform me into the image of Jesus. Give me the grace to be compassionate, kind, and loving as Jesus demonstrated. Help me to remember to run boldly to your throne in my times of need so that I can receive the mercy and grace you have promised me. Amen.

Practicing Grace and Gratitude

Grace and gratitude from God – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses. Each day this week I’ll read one story from the New Testament that tells how Jesus showed his humanity by how he demonstrated compassion and kindness to others even when mistreated or wronged.
Grace and gratitude in me – Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Every evening this week, I will pray before bedtime about specific worries or fears I may be battling and I’ll talk to God about each one.
Grace and gratitude in life – So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This week I’ll spend a few moments writing in my journal and listing prayer requests for those challenges in which I need a fresh eternal perspective.

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About Michele Howe

Michele Howe is the author of 31 books for women, children, and families. She has published over 3000 articles, reviews, and curricula. Her newest release, Fight for Joy - Discovering Peace in Impossible Circumstances, helps readers find joy in the midst of even life's most harrowing trials and ongoing pain. Read more about Michele's work at www.michelehowe.wordpress.com. You can read more about the author here.

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