Even though I fail God, He doesn’t fail me! (Plus 10 Bible verses for when we fail God)
A couple of weeks ago, my son had a difficult spelling list. As soon as I saw the list of words on Monday as we worked on assignments, I knew it was going to be rough. My 8-year-old has some additional challenges that make spelling a very difficult subject for him, to say the least.
We worked on those words all week. One day, we sang them. Another day, he wrote them. We played assigned games with them. As we worked on other spelling assignments, we repeated the spelling out loud.
I saw my son trying. He did his very best as he took the test. But then his face fell when his grade wasn’t what he wanted it to be.
As a mom, my heart breaks when things like this happens. We moms don’t like for our kids to have struggles and heartache. It hurts us deeply.
I spoke with my son and reminded him that no matter the score on his spelling test that day, I was proud of him. I knew how hard he’d worked. I saw him do his best and that’s all I can ever ask of him. His best was enough.
My feelings of spiritual failure
Later, as I was thinking about the day, I thought about all the times God has seen me struggle. I’ve worked on life lessons and done my best and still come up short. I put my faith into practice and then stumble right over it, yet again. In my head, I think of God as a stern Father, unpleased with me.
But, I realized He is like I was with my son. I am His beloved child. He wants what is best for me. My Father wants me to try and to work. He wants me to trust Him in hard times when I can’t handle things.
However, when I fall short and fail, He doesn’t get upset. His heart aches because He sees my potential. Maybe He has a slight smile because He knows what I’m going to learn from that failure. He doesn’t want to heap on more chastisement. God loves me and supports me every single step of the way.
I’d never be stern with my son about something I knew he had worked hard on and done his best. How much more is God the same way with us if only we trust Him and relax in the knowledge of what His is doing! God’s plan is always best, even when we go through times of failure. He will hold us and comfort us when we fall short. I am so thankful for God’s grace.
Bible verses for when we fail
When I feel like I fail God, I not only have this picture in my mind of Him treating me like I do my children when they fail, I also have God’s Word to remind me that He is ever faithful and true. The good news is these five Bible verses remind us of Who God always is — even when we fail and fall short.
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.”
This verse reminds me that I’m human and I’m going to struggle with feelings of failure and failing God, but He will give me His strength if I just trust in Him. When I’m facing hard things, God sends His Holy Spirit to encourage me and help me beyond my own power and own understanding.
“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
I love this verse, because it reminds me to keep going, even when I fail God. With Him I have the strength and ability to try and try again — no matter what my current situation is.
When I encounter spiritual battles that knock me down, this verse reminds me that in the power of Jesus’ name, I can rise again and not be defeated.
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This is my all-time favorite Bible verse. I love it for the promise God makes to strengthen and uphold us, even when we do fail. And I love it for the reminder that I don’t need to fear, because I struggle with that.
So often during my quiet time, God has brought this verse to mind to remind me of God’s power and peace when I have needed it most. Many times I found rest and peace in the image of myself being held in God’s hand.
“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Just like I won’t ever give up on my children when they try and fail, never will God give up on us. As children of God, we can trust that God’s work is always ongoing in our lives — even when when experience a feeling of failure.
“The Lord upholds all who fall
Psalm 145:14 (NIV)
and lifts up all who are bowed down.”
Even when I get so overwhelmed and off-track that I fall flat on my face, God is right there with me to put me back together.
I love that the Word of God reminds us God is faithful and full of grace for when we mess up. Our Father knows that by giving us free will, we aren’t going to always get things right. And in the perfectness of God’s ways, He has planned for those failures.
Bible verses to remind us of God’s faithfulness
Going right along with being able to trust that God won’t leave us when we fail, we must also remember God’s faithfulness. Even when I fail God, He remains steadfast and true. In big things and small things, God’s will and plan is always perfect.
“Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
Psalm 119:90 (NIV)
You established the earth, and it endures.”
While I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness to me, I am even more so for His faithfulness to my children. And this verse reminds us that God is faithful through ALL generations.
Knowing that Jesus Christ came to earth as the Son of God to die for my sins and those of all generations to follow me encourages me.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
This verse reminds me that I can hold onto hope no matter the situation because God is always faithful. He is even faithful when He says “no” to what I ask, because not for one minute does the spirit of God leave me! God’s eyes see the big picture to know what is truly best for me more than I ever could.
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
These words come from Moses as he was telling the Israelites that God was going to clear a path for them and bring them through to the Promised Land. While I’m not wandering in the desert facing armies, I am facing battles in my life and trust fully that God will be with me every step of the way until I reach the heavenly Promised Land.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
God is always faithful and nothing can come between us and His love! Sometimes when we are in a spiritual battle, we can feel alone and even abandoned by God. But the Bible reminds us nothing can separate us from our Father!
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
This verse I picked to end with, because I love the reminder that each day is a new day. God’s love never fails me, even when I fail Him. And even though I might have failed today, tomorrow is a new day when I get to try again!
Failing God isn’t the end
No matter where you are or the battle in which you are engaged, rest in the assurance of God’s forgiveness and goodness if we only ask for it. He will come running to meet us.
And trust that God has good things in store for you, even when you are at your lowest point. I have seen Him work in situations I thought would break me. I cling to that when I’m faced with struggles and hard times again. My history of God’s love and faithfulness encourages me to keep going and trusting in the power of Jesus’ name through it all.
God is good all the time!
Find more encouragement for your Christian life:
Bible verses for when you feel like giving up
Finding the strength to get through hard times
Don’t miss these Scripture cards of encouraging Bible verses to uplift you:
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