Because of Jesus I Am...Sýnishorn

What Happens If You Fail?

Verse - “Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” (Galatians 2:16)

Think - My boss’s question, “But what happens if you fail?” was met with a quick response, “Failure’s not an option!” And just like that, I was exposed. Over the years, passionately playing to my strengths, working hard, and staying disciplined served me well. Yet, I did not realize those things were also quieting an inner voice that had been my companion from my earliest memories that said, “You’re not enough!”

My boss saw through this and loved me enough to push in. “You’re going to fail, and it’s okay. It does not define you. In fact, by working hard to be perfect, you are letting failure define you, and it will ultimately destroy you.”

Then he spoke words to me that would alter the trajectory of my life, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus. Your faith in Jesus is what makes you right and good. Your success, hard work, discipline, and obedience will never be enough, and they do not need to define you.”

That life-changing conversation took place 20 years ago, yet I still find myself fighting to stay in that place of rest. In Jesus, I am good, complete, enough, and made right. I don’t need to prove it, work for it, or earn it. I am made right by faith in Jesus. Period.

Apply - Building strong habits and working hard does pay off. My hard work, drive, and determination were a gift and produced success in my life and will in yours, too. But don’t allow those things to define you. Don’t look to yourself to quiet your pain, answer life’s deeper questions, or grow. You aren’t enough on your own and never will be. Trust Jesus. Period.

Pray - Father, thank you for Jesus! Thank you for making me right and whole! Please continue to graciously expose the ways I’m looking to myself to make me enough and right with you! Amen.

Bio line - Adam Nagle serves as the Executive Director of The Factory Ministries, a faith-based human service agency focused on the alleviation of poverty.