Faith & Failures

Faith & Failures

[What to read before] - Proverbs 16:1-9 (key verse); 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We've all had dreams. Not the kind that you get when you're asleep - the ambitious kind. The kind where that is all you think about and do everything in your power to try and make it happen, no matter what. But that's the problem, it's all in your power. It's all what we want. But how often do we stop and think about what God wants for us? Even if it means your "dreams" is not apart of it.

When I was thinking of what to write about for this week's blog, it was not hard. I usually choose something that I'm dealing with or being taught at that moment. In saying that, this week's blog is about faithfulness and failures.

Usually, when we think about future plans and faithfulness... well, we really don't. However, the two actually go hand in hand. A lot of the time we make plans for ourselves. We have this grand scheme of how we want our life to go in our head. Whether or not you have it written down in a journal or have your own Pinterest board dedicated to it, you have it all pictured. 

Unfortunately, those "plans" that we have are just that - they are OUR plans, not God's. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that no matter how many plans we have laid out for our lives, God's will and purpose always stands firm. Now we know that, how do we deal with that? Do we just live defeated when we fail? Do we binge eat ice cream and sulk when our plans don't turn out the way we wanted?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us exactly what to do: "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Giving thanks! If you're not real sure how to do that, read Psalm 100.

Giving thanks to God even when we do not feel like it is a huge part of faithfulness. It shows God that we will remain steadfast even in times of uncertainty. What I've learned over the past couple years is that those times of uncertainty are mostly when my plans fail. But guess what: when our plans fail, His NEVER will! (Isaiah 14:24)

"Even when we have no song, I'll praise You!" (Even When it Hurts // Hillsong United) When we do not understand what He has in store and are just so confused with what is going on in our lives, we need but have faith. (Psalm 119:30) 

When we fail, He does not. When our plans don't work out, His will is done. When we feel defeated, He gives us victory! (John 16:33) So before you give up because your dreams didn't come true, realize that His will was done and that it's so much better than what any Pinterest board could look like. 

[To close, read Psalm 40 and pray it back to the Lord! Have faith in your failures; He has overcome the world!]