Since our lineage can be traced back to God, how could we even think that the divine image could be compared to something made of gold, silver, or stone, sculpted by man’s artwork and clever imagination? Acts 17:28 (TPT)
Divine Image – The Failure Series – Part 6
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7
So how do you move through failure?
In a little book called Acts, the writer (believed to be Luke) says:
“He has done this so that every person would long for God, feel their way to him, and find him—for he is the God who is easy to discover!” (Acts 17:27 TPT).
Look for the Divine in the failure. I’m not necessarily talking about a “silver lining” (although, how great was that movie!). I’m talking more about the idea that as you deal with your failure, keep your heart open and humble. The temptation is to close yourself off, hide yourself away. Become defensive and attacking. These are all relatively normal responses to the kind of humiliation that failure procures, but they’re not helpful in the long run.
So, breathe. Be still.
Feel your way to God and find him.
I think it's easier to find God (as in, reach out to him) in failure than in success. In failure, you’re stripped right back; there are fewer distractions; not much else building up your sense of identity and worth. It’s a bare bones kind of experience. I shared this quote yesterday, but it fits so perfectly, I’ll share it again:
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou.
Take your time. Sleep. Rest. Eat well. Do non-destructive things that bring you joy, like reading books, walks, or binging Netflix (The Crown = awesome). Gather your strength. You may have encountered defeat, but you are not defeated.
This is how you rise; bit by bit, moment by moment, day by day.
The second part of the verse in Acts I mentioned above says this:
“It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’ Since our lineage can be traced back to God, how could we even think that the divine image could be compared to something made of gold, silver, or stone, sculpted by man’s artwork and clever imagination?” (Acts 17:27-28).
How could we define the Divine Image within the constructs of success and failure? He existed before either of those experiences were felt and endured. He is not held together by circumstance, reputation, or popularity. He wasn’t created out of our words, or thoughts, or skills.
God simply is.
And “Our lineage comes from him.”
Which means we are not held together by our success or failures. “It is through Him that we live and function and have our identity.”
Failure has delivered to me this precious gift: understanding the ground of my being.
It’s easy to write; it's another thing entirely to live through it. But live through it you can. And you will.
Grace. Grace. Grace.
Go to Friends and Followers – The Failure Series – Part 7
Written by Lizzy Milani
[font_awesome link=”https://www.instagram.com/lizzy.milani/” icon=”instagram” color=”000″ size=”16px” margin_right=”” margin_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=””] lizzy.milani [font_awesome link=”https://www.twitter.com/lizzymilani/” icon=”twitter” color=”000″ size=”16px” margin_right=”” margin_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=””] lizzymilani
[vcex_image_grid columns=”3″ pagination=”false” thumbnail_link=”custom_link” link_title_tag=”true” custom_links_target=”_blank” overlay_style=”title-category-visible” columns_gap=”5″ img_hover_style=”fade-out” image_ids=”20934,20935,20937″ custom_links=”https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1239768002?pt=118656308&ct=blog%20footer&mt=8,https://www.pktfuel.com/dailyemail,https://www.pktfuel.com/support” img_height=”350″]