WHEN CHRISTIANS FAIL
We don't talk about failures much.
From pulpits we often hear about fulfilling goals and receiving blessings. Testimonies usually highlight life’s victories. What we read and hear frequently focus on how to live as winners. There is nothing wrong with these themes—cultivating a positive mindset is important for Christians. Yet this is not the whole story. We all face failure. Even if it feels shameful to admit, none of us is exempt. Failure is painful. It can shake your faith, make you question God’s will, and even cause you to doubt your own walk with Him.
In Hard Questions, Real Answers (2003), renowned Christian thinker William Lane Craig addresses the reality of failure among believers. He describes two kinds of failure. First, failure in the Christian life—when sin disrupts our relationship with God: poor choices, disobedience, giving in to temptation. Second, failure in the life of a Christian—setbacks not directly tied to personal sin: an unsuccessful job interview, a business collapse, being laid off. How should we face these painful experiences?
FACING FAILURES IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We are responsible for failures that damage our walk with God, and such failures can have eternal consequences. First John 2:16 identifies their roots: the lust of the flesh (sensual desire), the lust of the eyes (covetousness), and the pride of life (self-centered ambition, ego). Recognizing which of these drives a particular sin helps us address it through repentance, confession, faith, and obedience.
FACING FAILURES IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN
For many believers, this second type of failure is more difficult. When we know a setback isn’t our fault, doubts can run deep: “I followed the Lord. Why did my relationship fail?” “I gave my best. Why didn’t I pass?” “I served faithfully. Why was there no fruit?” “Has God abandoned me?” Craig recounts how he once failed his doctoral defense despite his best effort. He writes, “It wasn’t just that I had failed an examination. More than that, my failure was a spiritual crisis in faith for me. I felt hurt and disgraced, but even more, I felt betrayed by God. How could I ever trust Him again?” From this spiritual crisis he learned three lessons that can guide us as well.
1. We must understand that God's will in our lives can include failures.
“God’s will may be that you fail, and He may lead you into failure! For there are things that God has to teach you through failure that He could never teach you through success,” Craig explains. This is hard to accept, but nothing happens outside God’s knowledge and permission. Even defeat can be part of His greater victory.
Scripture offers many examples. Israel failed to drive out all the Canaanites from the Promised Land (Judges 1:27–36) despite the fact that He was with them (vv. 19, 22) and continually assured them that He had given them the land. Joseph, though faithful, was falsely accused and imprisoned for years (Genesis 39). Even Paul’s request for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh” was denied (2 Corinthians 12:7–9), despite his faith and devotion.
2. We need to learn from our failures.
When we experience failure, we need to look for the lessons it brings. This doesn’t mean we must fully understand why God allows certain things to happen. We don’t have access to all the details or to the “big picture” of what the Lord is accomplishing, so there’s no point in torturing ourselves with endless questions. Thankfully, we don’t need complete understanding in order to benefit from the challenges we face.
Most of the time, God may not provide clear answers to our doubts, but we can still ask ourselves meaningful questions that lead to growth: “What could I do differently next time to avoid repeating this failure?” “What aspect of Christ’s character is being developed in me through this experience?” “What response does the Lord desire from me right now?”
3. We must not give up.
“You’re not finished just because you fail. You’re only finished if you give up and quit. But don’t quit! With God’s strength, pick up the pieces of your failure and, having learned from it, go on.” (Craig). He shared that after a year of intense study, he repeated his dissertation defense and passed with honors. Yet for him, the real victory wasn’t the exam he finally passed or the degree he earned—it was the wisdom gained through failure, disappointment, and the courage to rise again. He even rejoiced that he hadn’t passed the first time! Reflecting on the experience, he said, “I can honestly say that I’m glad I failed the exam the first time around. It was for the best, because as a result of that failure I became theologically equipped for the Lord’s service in a way that would never have been possible if I had passed.”
We can never know where God will lead us if we refuse to give up. Scripture is filled with examples of people who endured and grew through setbacks. God often uses failure to guide us toward the place He intends. Failure is painful, but by His strength we can rise and move forward.
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