How to get back up when you fail
- May 26, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 7, 2021
We all fail. We all fall short. Failure is a part of life. Losing is a component of life. Falling down is a part of life. The first step is acknowledging that. Sounds simple and yet it really isn't for most of us.
In fact let's look at one of the reasons why people don't pursue their dreams or any worthwhile endeavor. One of the primary reasons is fear of failure.
People are terrified of failing. Nevertheless, no matter what you do in life, you WILL make mistakes.
So what we need to do is redefine what failure means. Does failure mean making a mistake? Does failure mean eating that donut I promised myself I wasn't going to eat? Or doing that one thing I said I would never do again?
Or.....
Is failure giving in completely and giving up?
True failure is throwing in the towel. Because guess what? If you make a mistake today, but you have breath in your body, the journey isn't over. You can try again. Don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed with emotion. Don't begin beating yourself up. Instead tell yourself: "This isn't the end. In life we all make mistakes. Today I made a mistake. And that's ok. It's a part of life. It's a part of the process of growth." And then you can begin to face that mistake. Analyze it and figure out how you can improve and do better so that you don't make that same mistake tomorrow. But if you do. That's ok. As long as you learn from it.
I will give you a process that will help you change the current of your thoughts and emotions when you make a mistake and fall down. These principles are tried and true. They have helped me tremendously. Especially on my darkest days. They have helped millions of others and I know they will help you.
All of these principles are found in the Bible. So many people have these huge misconceptions about the Bible. However, the Bible is the single most inspiring and life-changing book ever written! No I'm serious! It really is! It teaches you about absolutely everything in life. It's the only book you will ever need to read to understand life and go through life effectively with peace and joy.
The Bible is the "How To" book of all how to books. The Bible is the only self-improvement book you will ever need. I speak from life experience and countless hours of research and study.
But the Bible can be intimidating. So for the purpose of this topic, I will give you the step by step process of how to get up when you fall and grow.
Step #1: Re-define Failure
"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." - Proverbs 24:16
You see failure isn't falling down. The just man falls seven times. In fact he falls down more than the wicked. But why does he keep falling?
Because He - Keeps - Getting - Up.
The wicked man falls down once, stays down, and gives up. The just man never gives up.
In order to overcome bad habits we must have a "warrior's mentality". A warrior never gives up. A warrior never loses hope. A warrior fights until his last breath. And above all, a warrior understands that as long as I have oxygen in my lungs, the fight isn't over. Failure is staying down. So get back up.
Step #2: Do not trust your emotions
It's easy to give in when we fall and give up. It's easy to beat ourselves up when we have trained our minds to do that since we were young. So stop that train of thought before it even begins. Understand that our greatest enemy is ourselves. Go to the Word of God.
Here are a few Scriptures you can go to when you fall down:
- Proverbs 24:16 (The one above)
- Romans 8:7
- Jeremiah 17:9
- Proverbs 3:5-7
- John 13:37-38
The common theme running through all these verses is the fact that you cannot trust yourself. Our thoughts and emotions are fickle. Our nature is fallen. We are more inclined to think and do evil than to do good. So don't trust your heart. Yes I know the world tells you to "follow your heart". But let's take some time to reflect on the choices we've made throughout our lives. Think about how much pain we have put ourselves through in life because we trusted our hearts. Taking a few minutes to really dwell on that should be enough to cause us to have strong reservations about trusting our hearts again.
Why not trust the One who knows all things. The One person that loves you and can give you everything you've ever wanted. Yes, I'm talking about God.
But maybe you have reservations about the God of the Bible. If you do I would ask that you meditate on these verses before moving forward:
- Jeremiah 31:3
- 1 John 4:8
- Romans 5:6-8
- John 10:7-18
- Matthew 5:43-44
- Matthew 27:27-30
- Romans 8:31-39
Step #3: Understand that you cannot change yourself.
Yes that's right. No matter how many self-help books you read. No matter how many seminars you attend. You will never be able to truly change yourself. You may make superficial changes but never real, foundational, lasting change.
I know from experience. I use to read many self-help books. And at times it seemed like when I applied the principles it really was working. But it would never last. And I never had peace. Until I came back to God that is.
God created us. He knows us far better than we know ourselves. But pride prevents us from acknowledging this truth.
God tells us, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." - - Jeremiah 13:23. It's a rhetorical question. God is telling us the same way a man cannot change his skin color, or a leopard cannot change its spots, is the exact same way that you and I cannot change our character; our human nature.
So then what? Are we doomed to never grow, never change, never become better human beings?
Of course not. This blog post would be pretty useless if that were the case lol. The answer is more beautiful than you can possibly imagine.
It's true we cannot force ourselves to grow and change our defects, however God promises that He can and He will, IF, we allow Him to work in our lives. To illustrate this let's allow God to take our imagination to the natural world. Think about the beauty of trees and flowers. Think about the amazing process of a tiny seed germinating and growing into a massive tree. Or an uninteresting seed, growing into the most beautiful flower you've ever laid your eyes on. How does this process happen? Does the seed force itself to grow through sheer will power?
"Not all the wisdom and skill of man can produce life in the smallest object in nature. It is only through the life which God Himself has imparted, that either plant or animal can live. So it is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the hearts of men....As with life, so it is with growth. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by His power that the seed develops....The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life. The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself, secure spiritual growth." - Steps to Christ, p.67-68; Ellen G White.
Step #4: Trust in the Promises of God
Trust in God takes time and will develop through a daily relationship with Him and through reading the Bible. But when we come to a deep understanding that God is omnipotent, which means All-Powerful, it will transform how we walk through life. Remember, God spoke the world into existence. His words are creative and nature submits to His commands. It is no different with our human nature. When we submit ourselves and surrender to God He can work miracles in our lives. And when we consistently read and believe in His promises our nature obeys His word.
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." - Isaiah 55:11
So when you are feeling low. When you have failed and did that thing you said you weren't going to do, go through this easy 4 step process right away. As you do, the anxiety, guilt, and shame you feel will be washed away in the presence of God's love.
Know that you are not alone. God is with you and you can improve your life, your mentality, your health, your joy, and your peace, with God's help. You may be weak but God's power has no limits. Know that you "can do all things through Christ" who strengthens you. Believe in the God of miracles and never ever give up. Do this and you will win the race.
God bless :)
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