Andrée Seu Peterson, in an article entitled “Learning Curves” in World magazine asks the question. “Why would you ever assume that you can’t do all things by Christ who strengthens you?” (World Magazine, March 4, 2017, p. 63). The Bible tells us we can, of course, but the devil and our human nature keep telling us we can’t.
We should never let stumbles or setbacks along the way in our Christian walk prevent us from moving forward, from carrying on, from dusting ourselves off and getting back to work. We must always look at any failure (large or small, real or perceived) as a learning experience. “How can I do that better the next time?” “What can I do to adjust my approach?” “What do I need to avoid?”
We as humans are not perfect, yet Jesus makes us perfect through his death and resurrection, so we need to let him guide us through troubling times. That’s what maturing in faith is all about. We need to never give up in our witnessing for Christ, in our connecting with him, in our building of relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, in our complete and total trust in him. He gives us the right words to say, the appropriate actions to take, the correct stance to have when confronting the next inevitable struggle.
The Bible is clear on this:
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 1:5-8
Our goal is to grow in Christ and never give up. Remember that the next time a bad day hits you hard. You truly can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!