God’s power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor. 12:19). I have been thinking a lot about the word failure. I looked it up and only one reference came up. Paul was writing to the Thessalonians saying his visit was not a failure. This idea haunts most of us in one-way or another. Many feel that their marriage is a failure when it turns out their spouse betrayed them.

There is no failure in God’s economy. Once we accept Christ, God sees us through the blood of Christ as redeemed. Of course our job is to stay in the refining process, but still we can’t fail, because the work is Christ’s to be done in and through us. This is a strange concept that feels counter intuitive. Of course we serve a God of mystery and most of His ways are paradoxical. For example you must die to live, give to receive, and love your enemies.

All around us the world celebrates winners and vilifies losers. We get passing or failing grades all through school and even hear from our families when we don’t measure up. As hard as it is to grasp, God sees only our potential and inherent value based on being His child. Oh, to walk in this truth. I for one am trying to fight the negative voices in my head.

As I look at my life though, I see God has used my mistakes far more than my success. My mistakes have taught the most about His love and grace. Feeling the loving hands of hope when all seemed loss and hearing His gentle words of peace when my soul raged has been life changing. His power really is made perfect in my weakness if I will let Him have it.

Surrendering my weakness should be easy, but there is a strong element of pride and shame that would tell me to hide or keep my mistakes to myself. God has shown me I have two choices. I can hold onto my error and let it define who I am or I can take it to the cross and let God use it to refine me. The second choice pays huge dividends, but comes at the cost of humility and honesty.

I still hear that voice saying all the ways I have fallen short, but now I let it move me forward instead of paralyzing me. I look the mistake square in the face and think, “Okay, so I am like everyone else, I make mistakes and the world keeps spinning. Show me Lord how You can use this to teach me more about how You work.” He has never let me down. I eventually see His love for me as He puts my mess into His perspective.

If all believers lived like this was true, imagine how powerful it would be. I want to live in this truth. I love that there is no condemnation in Christ (Rom. 8:1) and I have no condemnation for others. It is a place of peace. It doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences or boundaries, but it does keep our choices in the realm of opportunity and away from the realm of identity. So, let’s go and grow in the power of the Lord.