When You Fall or Fail Get Back Up!
Sometimes we are our own biggest critic and condemner when fall short, fail, and or make mistakes. We may even have a tendency to give up and stay down once we’ve fallen. However God wants us to get back up and keep going. He’s not mad or angry. He’s not discouraged or disappointed. In fact, God is our biggest cheerleader!
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a (ESV)
“Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.” Psalm 56:9 (NIV)
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NIV)
“The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Psalm 118:6 (NLT)
“But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.” 2 Corinthians 7:6 (NLT)
I’ve mentioned before that Joe McGee often says, “We’re not the perfect people, we’re the getting back up people!”
“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
God cheers us on even more if we fall or fail
God is our Father, and he a good father, a good parent…even better than we could ever be.
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11 (NLT)
Subsequently which of us would kick or discourage a child when he’s down? That would be a pretty awful parent to do something like that, right? So why would we expect God to do something like that?
I recently heard someone say that if a child is running in a race but then falls in the middle of the race, the parent would never say, “You’re so stupid. How could you do that? What’s the point of even trying now? You might as well go ahead and give up.” That’s when a parent starts cheering even louder and encouraging them even more… “Get back up! You can do it! You’ve got this!”
That’s how God is. God cheers us on even more when we fall or fail.
It also reminds me of my son pitching at a baseball game. If he’s pitching well and throwing strikes but then starts throwing balls instead of strikes, that’s the time I start cheering him on a little more.
God won’t kick us when we’re down. If we mess up, sin, or fail in some way, he is cheering us on even more…”Don’t give up! You’ve got this! You can do it! You’re not alone—I’m right here with you!”
A fall or fail is not the end or a death sentence
Nothing we could ever do—no mistake, no fall, no failure, not even A LOT of them!–will ever make God stop loving us.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
Additionally, God is a resurrection God. He can bring “dead” things to life! God can resurrect any of our mistakes and failures.
“In fact, we still feel as if we’re under a death sentence. But we suffered so that we would stop trusting ourselves and learn to trust God, who brings the dead back to life.” 2 Corinthians 1:9 (GW)
“That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” Romans 4:17 (NLT)
Here are a few examples from the Bible of people who fell or failed in some way but got back up…
Abraham
He lied twice about Sarah being his wife in order to protect himself (Genesis 12:10-20, Genesis 20:1-18), but God protected him anyway even though he lied. Also, Abraham and Sarah tried to take it upon themselves to fulfill God’s promise of bearing them a child instead of just trusting in God to enable Sarah to become pregnant (Genesis 16:1-5). Sarah later conceived Isaac even though they originally failed to completely trust God (Genesis 21:1-5).
David
David failed when he committed adultery and murder, but he repented (2 Samuel 11:1-26, 2 Samuel 12:1-25). God allowed him to remain king, he was blessed with Solomon who would become a great king, and he was known as a man after God’s own heart even amidst great sin (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).
Jonah
Jonah disobeyed God and ran away from Nineveh where God had directed him (Jonah 1:1-3). God was still able to use Jonah’s disobedience to turn some sailors toward God (Jonah 1:4-16). Additionally, God was able to turn the hearts of the people of Nineveh when Jonah decided to turn and obey (Jonah 3:1-10).
Peter
Peter denied that he knew Jesus 3 times even after promising he would never do such a thing (Matthew 26:33-35, Matthew 26:69-75). However, even after denying Jesus, God still used him to become one of the most influential preachers starting the early Christian church/community (Acts 2:1-47).
Paul
Paul originally persecuted the followers of Jesus even to the point of imprisoning them and participating in their murder (Acts 8:1-3), yet Paul (originally called Saul) turned to God (Acts 9:1-31). He ended up bringing the gospel and teachings of Jesus to the gentiles (non-Jews) throughout many countries of the region, including to Rome. He also wrote a significant portion of the New Testament.
A devotion I’ve been reading
I’ve recently been reading a devotion in my Bible app called “Fast From Wrong Thinking”. Day 21 of this plan covered this exact topic, stating that the thought “I feel like I’ve failed” is a thought that we need to fast or get rid of because of its discouraging and demoralizing effects. This devotion was very encouraging, so I thought I’d share it with you…
Fast From Wrong Thinking: DAY 21 — “I Feel Like I’ve Failed”[1]
“Today we are fasting from the thought that says, “I feel like I’ve failed,” or “I’ve failed in my relationship with God, in my faith, and in my life, etc.”
The feeling of failure can be disheartening and depressing. It can keep us in a cycle of defeat.
LET’S CHANGE IT TODAY
1. You have comeback DNA in you. Even in what seems like the worst situation, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Expect your comeback! You have resurrection DNA in you!
2. Fall-ing isn’t fail-ing. Proverbs 24:16 says, “A righteous man falls seven times, but he rises again! You are righteous in Christ. See yourself as someone who rises up. When you’ve fallen, you have the right to get back up.
3. Jesus gets His prayers answered. And He is praying for you, that your faith would not fail. Luke 22:32 tells us that Jesus said to Peter (and to you), “I have prayed for you, that your faith would not fail.” You are not going to fail. No shame! Get up.
4. Jesus is turning TO you, not FROM you! In Luke 22:61, Jesus turned TO Peter after he denied Him. He didn’t turn FROM him. You are accepted! This acceptance transformed Peter’s life after he hit rock bottom. God accepts you, just like He accepted Peter, even when you’ve failed.
5. Even when you’re doing poorly, God will NOT FAIL you. He’s going to make sure you make it. Your relationship with Him was His idea, not yours. He will finish what He started.
6. In one moment, God can turn around years of apparent failure. Esther 9:1 tells us God’s people were about to be destroyed, but God suddenly delivered them. In only ONE DAY, the tables were turned, and God transformed certain defeat into total victory! If God could accomplish this for them, He will do it for you!
THINK IT AND SAY IT
I have comeback DNA in me! It’s my new nature to always rise, even when I’ve fallen. I have the blood-bought right to get back up when I’ve failed! Jesus doesn’t turn from me when I’ve fallen; He turns to me and prays for me. I cannot fail. He will not fail me. His love will never fail toward me. I am expecting God to turn my failures and frustrations around beginning today, in Jesus’ Name!”[2]
“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
“But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 (NLT)
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
Take Some Practical Steps to Get Back Up When You Fall or Fail:
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First, know that EVERYONE falls and fails.
No one is immune. Jesus Christ was the only perfect human being that ever lived. Everyone fails…even that most perfect pastor or leader or Christian that you tend to put on a pedestal. And guess what, people still mess up even after accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Becoming a Christian doesn’t make you perfect or resistant to failure. However, we do have a Savior and helper to help us get back up when we do fall. Remember…we aren’t the perfect people, we’re the getting back up people!
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 (NLT)
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Secondly, remember that God is your biggest cheerleader—He won’t turn his back on you just because you fail.
Imagine yourself falling in a race, but then picture God in the stands cheering you on even harder when you do. That’s what he does. God is not giving up on you, so don’t give up on yourself.
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Next, get back up!
Don’t stay down when you fall or mess up. Get up! Be the “getting-back-up” kind of person. Remember of the examples from scripture of those who fell but then got back up and turned things around for good. God loves a good turnaround story. He loves to work in “impossible” situations.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
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Finally, read these similar posts that you might also find helpful…
Mistakes Can Turn Into Success: Look at these examples of bad turned good…
Overcome Your Failures: They Do NOT Define You!
Flaws, Imperfections, Mistakes: Are they really all bad?
Do you have a story of getting back up after a fall or a fail? Share it with us by leaving a comment below. You never know who you might encourage!
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- Dickow, Gregory. “Fast From Wrong Thinking-Day 21.” YouVersion, my.bible.com/reading-plans/13766-fast-from-wrong-thinking. ↑
- Dickow, Gregory. “Fast From Wrong Thinking-Day 21.” YouVersion, my.bible.com/reading-plans/13766-fast-from-wrong-thinking. ↑
