Embracing Failure As Well As Success

I don't know how successful or how much of a failure you feel you are today.  We each have our own history of successes and brokenness.  Every life is a mixture of moments of joy and pride and others of embarrassment and shame. 

Where some might succeed in business they might also be a total in their personal relationships.  Others are fun loving and have lots of friends but struggle to be responsible in education or in work habits.  Some have strong abilities but face challenges of integrity or addiction. 

The truth is that we are all strugglers, all in need of the continuing forgiveness and support of our loving God. 

Many of us are familiar with the story of a woman Jesus met at a well.  I’ve spoken about this encounter before.  What has always most impressed me in this story is that when Jesus reveals to the woman all the sordid details of her broken past, she doesn't hang her head in embarrassment and shame. 

There's something about Jesus' knowing all that's gone wrong and still loving us and accepting us and making room for us that is very powerful.  It was so powerful for this woman that she ran back to her village and instead of hiding in embarrassment from them she called out to get their attention and then told them: 

… “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

John 4:28-30

Doesn't look or sound like someone hiding in humiliation and afraid of ridicule and gossip to me?  I'm sure it doesn't to you either.  It didn't to those who heard and saw the women because they came to see Jesus and after spending time with Him they believed in Him for themselves. 

Lord, here we are, we are people you know to be weak with feet of clay and hearts that tremble. A little wind of adversity and we can make such a mess of the simplest of situations.  Temptation comes and before we know it, we give in.  Something that tests us confronts us and we complain and worry and get angry with you, almost on cue. 

You know that.  You know us.  You know the sins others see and  You know the things that we've hidden in our souls that bring us shame and humiliation and worry us should anyone find out about these things. 

Lord, we ask for the grace to be like this woman that You met, spoke to with truth and love, and who found the freedom in the truth - even the truth of her broken and shameful past - to joyfully accept and be herself and to reach out and make a difference in her community. 

Help us to live in truth and dignity today in such a way that many others will see the good You do through us and come to believe in you.  Amen

Well, whatever your mixture of success and failure is, bring it to God today and surrender your whole life to Him.  He knows what to do with it.  Have a great day.