Friday Fight 173: Gratitude for Growth

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF173.

Have we ever considered our reaction to our failure? Regardless of the situation or impact of the failure, is our first response to blame others or do we use it as an opportunity to learn and grow? When answered honestly, these questions can reveal the character of our hearts, allowing us to enhance our lives as we focus on God. In what area of our spiritual lives is God trying to move but being blocked by our perceived failures?

Gratitude for Growth:

I recently took an exam that was necessary for my professional growth. This particular exam was not offered in my area but was available in Virginia Beach. While the circumstances were frustrating (adding the expense of an overnight stay) I made the best of it by using the extra travel time to study and prepare. The exam itself covered a tremendous amount of content, and recommendations from others have been to answer what is known, make educated guesses on the rest, and aim for a minimum passing score. Every part of this trip was good. The traffic was light, the hotel was pleasant, and I was prepared to answer most questions. Unfortunately, my unofficial score was not high enough to qualify as passing.

How does our mindset capture the posture of failure? We can understand more about ourselves by looking at our reactions during these times. Do we learn or blame everything else for our failure? Answering these questions with honesty speaks to our character in Christ. Did my inadequate score define who I am as a person? Certainly not. I felt the heaviness of my circumstances on the way home from this exam, but I was also relieved by the comfort and hope that God provides. When we look at Psalm 145, one of praise and speaking to the glory of God regardless of our circumstances or temporary feelings of inadequacy.

Driving to Virginia Beach allowed time for review and communication with God. He is always at work, and I couldn't help but wonder why this particular testing center, three hours away, was the only one offering this specific exam. My unofficial score was two points below the requirement to pass, but what was God revealing? We should never be so focused on our agendas that we miss the opportunity to be His vessel.

As I stood outside the morning of my test, I talked to a hotel worker. I realized the Holy Spirit was opening a door, allowing me to speak life into a man who knew God, walked away from Him, and was trying to find his way back. I walked away feeling honored for the opportunity to surrender to His purpose. When we focus on God, it removes our perception of what is important. It shows that even when our expectations aren’t met, God’s decision to use us for the benefit of others is always good.

Pastor Shannon

New Life River Church