Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Coordinator of the Department of Spiritual Life on July 14, 2025.
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"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
— Micah 6:8 NIV
Frustration. Disappointment. Defeat. These are words often associated with failure and what we think about ourselves when we fall short of achieving a goal. When we fail, the world tries to discourage us, while God tells us that failure is a part of growing.
When was the last time you failed at something? It was likely very recent. Humans tend to avoid things that pose a risk. We are full of pride. We make countless mistakes. The idea of failing is a concept that people try their hardest to avoid, but God uses failure to teach us.
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The world defines the concept of failure as a “lack of success”.1 For example, not getting the promotion you wanted at work. Similarly, heavenly failure is seen as the spiritual “lack of success," as in not carrying out God’s purpose for your life. These two viewpoints can both can agree that failure is what happens when you don’t complete a desired goal. What makes the two different is that they have two different ideas of what the goal is.
The world says that the goal of humanity is to positively contribute to society and be happy while you do it. God says that our goal is to share the gospel and spend our lives believing in him. These two conflict when a person tries to serve both God and the world.
When evaluating your goals and how you want to work to achieve them, it is important to look at what you are ultimately working toward. Is it to live a fulfilling life here on earth, enjoying earthly pleasures and following your own fleshly desires? Or is it to use your God-given gifts to point people to Jesus and set an example of Him?
Letting the fear of failure drive your life can create discontentment and even depression.2 Having a mindset that your failures bring resilience is a perspective that can change the way you look at your personal disappointments.
The Bible offers much wisdom on failure — encouraging us to use it as an opportunity to grow in our trust in God. God has a purpose bigger than what you can imagine. Who are we to sit and question the creator of all things? One way to surrender the fear of failure to God is to acknowledge your weakness and give Him control. Go to Him in prayer and ask your brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for you as well. Do not be ashamed of your weaknesses.
Lean into the Lord’s grace, and He will give you peace.
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
— Romans 5:3–4 NIV
Times when we are disappointed in our lack of worldly success can lead to seasons of uncertainty and distrust in Gods plans. This fear shifts the focus onto the things that humans can achieve instead of what God can achieve, which is vastly different. Reflecting on failure is important because you can then choose to grow from it or have it hold you back in disappointment.
It is easy to fall into frustration of failure, but God has a plan for every moment. He hears every cry, and He answers every prayer.
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you."
— 2 Kings 20:5 NIV
