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Not A Failure


for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

          I’ve joined a summer Bible study at my church that is focusing on being present instead of being perfect. It is hard for me too just be with someone. Quality Time is not my love language. It’s made harder because I’m having to be the parent to someone who doesn’t want to give up being in charge.
          One of the tasks assigned was to look at a bunch of Scripture and to provide my interpretation of hose verses. Today’s passage was one of the verses, but it was translated this way: “God will accomplish good things through you.” So, what is my interpretation?
          In Romans 8:28, Paul tells us all things work together for good, not that all things are good. God will do whatever it takes in me and my life to accomplish His will, which is good and goodness, but that doesn’t mean I’ll think it pleasant. More often than not, it is easy to look past the good things that happen in me and in my life. I can fail to notice them, but I don’t tend to miss the bad things that happen in me and in my life. I tend to assume that the bad things that happen do so because I am a failure. It’s all needed to try to whip me into something that will fulfill His purpose. If I were a better, stronger, ___-er person, maybe He wouldn’t have to go to such lengths.
          Yes, I know this is skewed thinking. I have no real reason to believe that I’m as big a disappointment to God as I think I am. If nothing else, if I’m such a failure at everything else, how could I possibly believe that I am a wildly successful disappointment? 
          This sort of thinking is why I ask people to pray about my attitude. I need to trust God that He is more successful in achieving His purpose in my life than I tend to believe. His reality is more real than my reality. His truth is more true than my truth. His good is way better than mine.

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