How to Keep Our Eyes on Jesus When We Fail, Again

• But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Failure.

It is a label I carry around in my heart and mind. One I plaster over different roles in my life.

If my children don’t do well on a math assignment I label myself a bad teacher. I failed.

The weeks I can’t get dinner planned and on the table I say a failed as a manager of my home.

When I don’t make the phone call or send the text I meant to send to my friend. I failed my friend.

The doctor’s office called, I forgot an appointment – mom failure.

Failure is a weight a carry with me. I work to hide it from the world because I don’t want anyone to think I fail. I do a pretty good job until my eye starts twitching and the weight of failure wears me out.

Interestingly Jesus knows my failures and sin way better than I do myself and He doesn’t call me a failure. He tells me I am loved and known. (Psalm 139) God knows me better than I do myself and He delights in me…a stumbling child who often chooses to put myself above Him.

Here is the mystery: my account with God is not only cleared by Jesus’ work on the cross, but Jesus gave me, gave all those who believe in Him, God’s righteousness. So I am not failure. I am a new creature. Though I do what I do not want to do – I sin against a holy, righteous, gracious God – He forgives me over and over again and He sees me as righteous. Perfect. Clean.

Grace and love like that are so amazing I long to please God with my life. Knowing this grace keeps my eyes trained on Jesus. Though I fail, through Him I have victory. May that be said of all those who have faith in Jesus, that we long to show our love for Him in faithful obedience.

Father God, forgive me for doing what is sinful, ugly, what does not please You. Help me to obey in humble gratitude for what You have done. And Lord, when I fail may I never accept “failure” as my label. Instead remind me of the truth. That I am loved, treasured, valued, and significant because You love me. Thank You for knowing me and loving me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.