Truths to Remember When We Think We Have Failed

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Sometimes the chatter in our heads is so loud that we lose focus on truth. In fact, the chatter gets so loud it turns into a party and this is when we need to tell ourselves to hush.

This ever happen to you? Surely you know what I’m saying. At this point, we need truths to remember when we think we have failed.

It may start with a trivial issue- someone noticed a problem we’re having and offered to help. But instead of seeing the blessing of assistance, we belittle ourselves mentally into a tiny speck of dirt because we couldn’t make it alone. As if it were the same as a child learning to tie their shoes for the first time.

Maybe the issue is that we think we failed. Miserably, terribly, just simply didn’t complete the task or meet the goal.  And in a heartbeat, all our efforts, the good of what came from the exercise, is down the toilet, frankly speaking. At least our thoughts about ourselves are down the toilet.

Almost two weeks ago now, I ran my fourth half marathon. I didn’t say too much about it on social media or here on the blog, because, well, it.was.terrible.

First off, I didn’t have the focused training time that I managed for my last two races. Secondly, before, during, and after the race, it rained the entire time. I don’t mean it sprinkled. It was a steady rain that never quit.

Now I’ve trained in steady rain before. But not at the temps we had this particular race day. So the whole time I was running, I felt like a popsicle in a turtle shell.

My poor husband had to wait for almost an hour for me. Standing in the rain after he completed the race. And I felt terrible that he waited so long for me. Freezing.

All that to tell you that it has taken me these two weeks to quiet myself over the event. I felt like I failed. Everyone in the race that I knew ran faster than I did. My time was horrible and the finish line was not very victorious. I was just glad to be finished. No one else seem to be deterred by the rain like I was. No one else seemed to be upset about a terrible finish. No one else seemed to be feeling like a popsicle in a turtle shell.

I believed every lie about the race that Satan was feeding me for a few days. That I wasn’t good enough. That I should have been able to run faster. That everyone else is better than me and more suited to running than I am. I could go on and on. (Don’t ask my husband about this. 😉 )

Whatever the issue, when our thoughts keep circling the negative side of a situation and Satan feeds us lie after lie, then the only solution is to grab on to truths to remember when we think we have failed.

1. Finishing never equates failure.

I have the medal to prove that I finished. Quitting was not an option.

 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Heb 12:1

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

2. God’s plan for the results of an event doesn’t match our own- it is always better.

I would like to tell you that I had my best time ever. Instead, I’m telling you that God used one small moment of my training time to encourage me to write a list of Bible verses for when you feel like giving up and I receive emails at least once a week from someone who has been encouraged by that list of verses.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11

3. Life isn’t always about winning; life is more often about disciplining.

The truth is: I’m not the fastest runner for a woman my age. Maybe I will get better when I experience more training. But I don’t train and run to win the race- that’s a lonnnng haul goal. I train and run to develop discipline in my life.

So I take the lessons this time around and apply it towards the next round.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28

Are your “failures” transforming into stepping stones to success? What truths do you hang on to when you think you have failed?