Never Abandoned by God

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)

“I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison made the above statement after many failed attempts before inventing the light bulb in 1879. Had he given up, we would still be reading by the light of an old-fashioned lantern. 

Edison and other inventors knew what it took to persevere. They believed in their work and didn’t dwell on the possibility of failure. They kept trying and ultimately succeeded, changing the world for the better.

Have you ever felt like a failure? Have you set your mind to accomplish something, only to find it didn’t turn out as you envisioned? Have you had your hopes and dreams shattered by someone else’s actions? 

Many of us have been wounded or felt like failures at some point in our lives. It happens to the best of us because Satan loves to whisper negative thoughts, trying to keep us from seeing our lives through a spiritual lens. He knows that if we turn to God and lay our failures, hopes, and dreams at the foot of the cross, God will make sweet lemonade from the lemons of our lives. If we allow it, He will help us use this transformation for His glory and our good. 

We might get knocked down, but as the Scripture above tells us, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are not destroyed. You see, failure isn’t final with the Father. It is an event; it doesn’t define us. Jesus will help us keep going when we fail. His help and love only lead us one step closer to victory. 

I am so thankful that God, His Word, and our faith in Christ will always help us rise above feelings of failure. We will never be perfect this side of Heaven, but we can take comfort in knowing that one day thoughts of failure will no longer be an issue. Until then, may God help us stay on the right side of His thinking. It is certainly a more enjoyable place to dwell.

Prayer: Dear God, You are the One who takes our failures, weaves them into our life’s story, and makes something beautiful from them. Thank You for teaching us in Your Word that failure is never final with the Father. Help us bring every thought, every challenge we face, and every anxious moment to You, for we know that only through our faith in Jesus Christ can we find peace in our hearts. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen