The Antidote for Feeling like a Failure

In this age of social media, where comparison is the thief of joy, I would say that most people end up feeling like a failure.  Whether it be in their looks, their weight, their clothes, their houses, their parenting or their spousing, seeing others lives portrayed so perfectly on their social media feed, leave us feeling like a failure. 

Am I a Failure in God's Eyes

Social Media isn't the only instigator for feeling like a failure.  The father of lies, Satan, loves to bother the children of God with feelings of unworthiness; making them feel as though they are failures in God's eyes.

But we know the Truth...

For the grace of God has appeared,

bringing salvation for all people,

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,

and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Titus 2:11-12

The Lord chose us before the worlds began and set aside works for us to do for His Glory.  He will not allow His children to be failures.  For He has promised...

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you 

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 1:6

The Antidote for Feeling Like a Failure

I've been contemplating God's grace a lot over the past year...

Even though I personally have been walking with the Lord for about 20 years now, I am still learning much about Grace...

Grace:  Free and unmerited favor of God

The definition of God's Grace hit me like a ton of bricks last week...

Free and unmerited favor of God...

Of course I know this, but do I really know it??

As I mentioned earlier, you know those times when Satan gets a foothold and convinces you that you are not good enough; that you can't possibly be a Christian with how you behave; that nobody loves you; that you are a failure; that you are ugly, that God doesn't love you...

I seem to be having one of those months, where I've been pretty down on myself based on circumstances that feel personal and due to my own failings, I have fallen prey to Satan's lies - I have been feeling like a failure.

But then I realized, I am not applying God's free and unmerited favor to myself.

By remembering God's Grace, lavishly applied to me, I am not accepting my sin or my perception of my lot, but recognizing that I am a sinner saved by Grace.  Nothing will separate me from the love of God - NOTHING!  From the moment I realize I have succumbed to Satan's lies or from the moment I have sinned,  I can start fresh by confessing to the Lord for He has already removed my sins as far as the East is from the West.  When I give myself Grace, I receive afresh God's free and unmerited favor to remind me that I am safe and secure in Him.  I am not a failure.

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

John 1:16

“I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour, What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Thru cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!”  Lyte & Monk

When Others Have Failed You

In the same way, when there are those in our lives that push our buttons, hurt us time and again or don't reciprocate our love, who in essence have failed us, we must extend the same Grace to them that the Lord has given us.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, 

forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

You might not feel certain people deserve your favor, but because we didn't deserve God's favor, yet He still lavished it upon us, we should extend that same grace to others.

It seems that 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 sums up best how to show Grace to others...

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

“More about Jesus I would know, more of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, more of His love, who died for me. More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus; More of His saving fullness see, more of His love, who died for me.”   Hewitt & Sweney

God's Grace Trains You Not to Succumb to Failure

And finally, God's Grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives.

When we apply God's Grace to our lives, we will not become a self-fulfilling prophecy with a "well I'm going to mess up anyway..." mentality which just holds us prisoner to our sinful ways, but will instead see ourselves the way God sees us, wearing the Righteous robes of Jesus that will spur us on to walk in Grace.

We are like little children.  When a child is continually praised, they strive to obey and it creates a cycle of success.

In the same way, when we continually apply the Grace of God to ourselves, it will train us to be Godly and to continually show God's grace to others.

As we close out this post, remember, Jesus removed our failures as far as the East is from the West when He died on the cross taking up our failures and redeeming them.  God's grace is sufficient.

For similar posts, click on the following:

How Does God Use My Failure?

The Epitome of Grace

Giving Yourself Grace - A Biblical Perspective

Am I Good Enough for God?

Why Praise is Your Greatest Spiritual Weapon Against Sin

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