Courage After a Failure
Failure is a reality of life. When trying something difficult for the first time, failure will happen. What we are talking about this week is different than a moral failure or a failure that damages a relationship. This is working hard to make the tennis team and getting cut. This is trying and failing to get into that college. Your teens will face or have already faced these things in their lives. It might be easier to just play it safe, but that does not seem like a fulfilling life. This week, work on having conversations with your teens about how their faith can come into play when we talk about failure and success.
In this month’s reading plan, we want to help you walk through the book of 1 Samuel. This book has so many great stories of courage and failure. We hope this narrative story gives you knew inside into having courage in your own life. Because there are 31 chapters in this book you will be doing a little more reading this month.
Chapters 26-31 of 1 Samuel
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you (Isa. 43:2).
Lord, You have been with me through everything. There has not been one time when You have not been right by my side. You have protected me through everything.
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light (Micah 7:8).
I was reading in Micah 7, and it talks about how I fallen but will still stand up. And though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Can I share with you a time when my life was difficult, but I trusted in God?
When have you experienced a funny but also embarrassing moment? Will you share that story with me?
“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood” (Isa. 54:4).
Do you fear failing at anything? If so, what? Why do you think you fear this failure?
As Christians, how do you think we should respond to our own failure?
How can we encourage others who might struggle with the fear of failure?
What important things can be learned from our failures in life?
How should we respond when other people’s failures affect us?
We can be so afraid of failure that we rarely try difficult things. Failing at difficult things can make us stronger, but it can also strengthen our perseverance. Students can feel a huge pressure to succeed and make everyone happy. The desire to not let your parents down can be stifling. Take time this week to chat as a family and make a goal to try something difficult this week or this month. Set a big goal for yourself that will take time and effort to achieve. Failure may happen but see what your family can learn by challenging each other.