Adapted from ‘The Journey: How to Live By Faith in an Uncertain World’ by Billy Graham (W Publishing Group, 2006). Used by Permission.
Closely related to disappointment is another reality we all experience at some time: failure. Like disappointment, failure can run the gamut from mild to almost overwhelming and may trigger a host of reactions, including anxiety, stress, and even despair.
The apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). He wrote those words while in prison, his plans disrupted and his future uncertain. The reason he could say them, however, was because he had learned to see disappointment and failure from God’s perspective, and to trust the future into His hands. May this be true of us. When life turns against you, let the psalmist’s prayer become yours: “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths” (Psalm 25:4).
Write about a time you failed. Or, write about something you’re afraid to do for fear of failure. How has failure gotten in the way of your relationship with God?