Permission to Fail

He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust 

(Psalm 103:14)

Did you hear about the young pastor who received the same telephone call every week?  Early Monday mornings his phone would ring and a deep mellow voice at the other end would say, “Hello.  This is God.  I just called to tell you that today you have my permission to fail.”

The caller wasn’t God, of course, but an older pastor who was aware of the unrealistic demands his young colleague made on himself, and was reminding him that God does not expect His children to be perfect.

We know from Scripture that this is true, but does God actually condone failure?  The question intrigued me, and as I began to search His Word, I was surprised to find much evidence that in some matters, God does grant us permission to fail.  Here are a few of the ones I found:

God grants us …

…permission to fail to have all the answers: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)

…permission to fail to be afraid: Do not be afraid; only believe (Mark 5:36)

…permission to fail to feel helpless: God is our refuge and strength.  A very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear (Psalm 46:1-2)

…permission to fail to feel hopeless: Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:5-6)

…permission to fail to feel alone: God has said “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

…permission to fail to rely solely on our own strength: He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

…permission to fail to question things we do not understand: ”My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,“ declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8)

…permission to fail to be anxious: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6)

…permission to fail to feel defeated: Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)

…permission to fail to feel inadequate: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

…permission to fail to receive everyone’s approval: If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first (John 15:18)

…permission to fail to feel unappreciated: God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you helped His people and continue to help them (Hebrews 6:10)

…permission to fail to feel guilty about the past: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1)

…permission to fail to become impatient: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7)

…permission to fail to “lose it” under pressure: Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27)

…permission to fail to hold a grudge: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13)

…permission to fail to dwell on negative things: Whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely …admirable…excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8)

…permission to fail to abuse our freedom in Christ: You…were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature (Galatians 5:13)

So it is true.  God does grant us permission to fail to do some things.  Ironically, these are the things that come naturally to us.  They do not require thought or conscious effort.  Though we may not intend to do them, before we realize it, we have.

This is not a new problem nor are we the only ones to experience it.  It is universal and dates back to the beginning of humanity.  The Bible offers many examples of such behavior, and we know from observation and personal experience that these tendencies are a basic part of our human nature.

There is hope, however.  While it is true that we cannot completely eradicate these tendencies from our nature, God grants us permission to fail to let them control our lives, and  He tells us how to do so: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2)

Lord, grant us today the strength and
will power to fail in the right ways.

Note: God has a way of making His truths real and personal as I discovered again the past several days when I needed His help not to feel guilty for being unable to post devotionals while my husband was in the hospital.  Like any good teacher, He continues to give us learning opportunities.