Beloved Failure

God loves failures. When Adam failed, God protected him and Eve by removing them from the Garden and providing the basics they needed. When Moses failed, God still honored him in front of the people. When David failed, God gave him options and accepted him when he repented. No matter how much of a mess we make, regardless of how short we fall, in spite of our shortcomings and failures, God gives us another chance. He takes us back, not as damaged goods, but as honored members of the family, privileged, accepted, showing His grace, letting others see they, too, can be restored.

Jeremiah 31:40 The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown...will be holy to the Lord.

God knows, and we quickly learn, that it is only from having failed in life that we can gain true humility. Humility rises from a deep sense of gratitude to God for giving us the strength to rise above past failures. Humility is not inconsistent with self-respect. A truly humble person has self-respect, as well as the respect of others, yet is humble. The humble person is tolerant of others' failings, and does not have a critical attitude toward the foibles of others. Humble people are hard on themselves and easy on others.

Jeremiah 32
v.27 I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
v.38 They will be My people and I will be their God.
v.39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them.
v.40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear Me, so that they will never turn away from Me.
v.41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

Isn't that astounding and refreshing? We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul, and He promises to plant us in His kingdom with all of His heart and soul. Nothing can overturn what God has determined to do!

Jeremiah 31
v.16 Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded.
v.17 So there is hope for your future, declares the Lord.

Love us, lift us, lead us, O Lord. Thank You that You refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Let us not be as those who turn their backs to You, Lord, but rather we choose to meet with You face to face, cleansed, as friends, as accepted, as beloved. Help us ever to be aware of how much we owe you so that our gratitude, just like Your mercy, will be fresh every morning.

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