WORD OF THE WEEK - FAIL 2-25-26

DEFINITION: To not succeed in accomplishing a goal, expectation, requirement, or desired outcome
Scriptures:Psalm 66:10 - "For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.”

Psalm 121:4 — “Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.T hey are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.

Website:  www.wow-newton.com

Website: www.wow-newton.com
Email:  osnewton@wow-newton.com

Transcript

DEFINITION: To not succeed in accomplishing a goal, expectation, requirement, or desired outcome

Scriptures:
Psalm 66:10 - “10For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.”

Psalm 121:4 — “Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.23They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.

As I was preparing to conclude our series on TESTS, the Olympics this week caught my attention. We watched world-class athletes—people who have trained for years, sacrificed much, and earned the right to compete on the world stage—experience moments of failure.

In my opinion, the very fact that they made it to the Olympics makes them winners. Yet their sponsors, parents, coaches, teammates, and supporters likely invested in them with one goal in mind: to win the gold. They were there to pass the test. Anything less would be considered a failure—without the luxury of do-overs.

In our introduction to this TEST series, we talked about the many kinds of tests we face and the people, situations, and questions that show up in the middle of them. But the most important part of any test is this:

What do we do when we don’t have the knowledge, skill, endurance, or strength to pass?
What do we do when we fail?

Failing and failure are words we don’t like to consider. No one competes with the intention of losing. Yet every test, competition, battle, or challenge produces one of two outcomes—positive or negative. No matter the scale or measurement, the result is either win or lose, pass or fail.

Yet while our lives often swing between success and failure, there is one place where this does not apply: God.

There is no failure in God.
He is absolute.
He is the beginning and the end.
He is the One who holds both the positive and the negative in His hands.

As humans, our emotions overwhelm us when we fail. We wrap ourselves in a blanket of self-talk and sorrow:
I failed the test.
I lost the race.
I have an incurable disease.
My spouse left me.
My job is gone.
My church is gone.
I am broke.
I lost the election.
I am confused.
I am sad.
I am disappointed.
My heart hurts.
God has left me.
I cannot go on.

But let me remind you:
• Nothing on this earth truly belongs to you—so nothing can ever really be lost.
• There is no sorrow that God cannot heal.
• Your relationship with God ensures that you win, even when you lose.
• God has promised never to leave or forsake you, even when you fail.

Your failure becomes the ultimate test.
• Will you remain in self-reliance, or will you cast your cares on God?
• Will you stay bound to negative feelings, hopelessness, and despair, or will you exercise your faith and find your joy?

God has promised to renew your strength, your resolve, and your confidence. His mercy meets you in your darkest hour. His love restores your soul. His people—because sometimes we need to see God with skin on—bring hope and comfort in times of trouble. And His mercy gives you the strength to wake up each day with renewed hope, courage, and joy.

There is a passage of Scripture we recited every Sunday when I was a child. I leave it with you today because it still comforts me when I am at my wits’ end—when I have failed and need to be renewed.

Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.