He Uses Our Failures

I must confess that when things are going extremely well for a long spell, I find myself waiting for the other shoe to drop. I get a bit uncomfortable because experience has taught me that sooner or later there has to be a problem with my name on it. Being the planner that I am, I like to see my problems coming and be prepared rather than caught off guard.

Don’t get me wrong; I love the smell of success. Having things go well is what keeps me going; it’s just that it’s difficult to keep multiple balls in the air at the same time for extended periods of time. I know myself well enough to know that I can only juggle so many things well for so long and then I start dropping them like hot cakes. If I didn’t know better, I might think I was sabotaging myself.

At time like that I have to remind myself that God tends to do some of His best work in the midst of our mistakes. Gideon tried to hide and convince God that he was the most unqualified of the unqualified. So what did God do? Subtracted from the troops and sent him into battle! Joseph couldn’t keep the vision to himself and bragged to his brothers. It got him thrown into prison for years; yet God used that training ground to humble him and help him become invaluable to his earthly boss. That put him in position to save his people and his family.

When things are going well, we seldom recognize our need for God because we attribute our success to our own talents and abilities. It’s when they begin to fall apart that we get out of our own way and make room for the King to take over. Ironic, isn’t it? I’ve learned that I need Him as much on my good days as I do on my bad ones, but that wisdom didn’t come easy.

Make room for Him everyday and you may experience fewer failures in your life; but even if they happen, rest assured that He will show up right on time and you’ll finish strong. He uses failures to our advantage and for His glory and He qualifies the unqualified when they humble themselves and ask for assistance.