Have you ever gotten that awful pit-in-your-stomach feeling after finding out you let someone down?
It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as I read through an email from a client, sent to my manager and forwarded to me, describing how I had let some details fall through the cracks on a project.
A horrible sense of discouragement and embarrassment moved in for the kill.
In the past, I would have welcomed my uninvited critical thoughts to stay a while, resigned to the fact that I must be unable to do anything right!
But not this time; too many hurtful experiences had taught me to recognize failure as an opportune time for my opponent, the devil, to devour me with feelings of inadequacy and shame. This enemy is bent on making me believe that when my best isn’t good enough, I’m not good enough.
Fortunately, times of pain have also included hours of poring over God’s promises, gathering wisdom to deal with this unwelcome intruder. I have learned to be alert to the devil’s schemes and ready to stand against them. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, Peter tells us how:
“Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
After reading the email and letting my thoughts run wild for a few minutes, I knew I had to clear my mind. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me un-clutter my thoughts with the clarity of truth from logistical, circumstantial and spiritual points of view….
Read the rest of this story and what happened in my Encouragement for Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries blog. But BEFORE YOU go…
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I needed this today. I am in the middle of striving to please everyone, to living up to an idea of who or what I am supposed to be, and I feel like it is all falling down around me. As I read your blog post I kept wishing I was sitting next to you watching you go through your bible and find these truths. I struggle hearing the voice of the Lord, I struggle trying to spend quiet time, and listening for him to whisper these truths to me… Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
You did an excellent job of being real, accountable, transparent and followed it up with practical processing tools. Thank you so much for sharing how to mentally and emotionally bring Jesus/The Word into our everyday life! You are an amazing inspiration of overcoming victory in Jesus.
Wonderful thoughts on how we are to trust God even when we fail at the things and turn to him for continued guidance.
Thank you for the encouraging devotional today. Many years ago I when I was struggling as a young pastor’s wife, a mentor reminded me that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Her word of encouragement to me really helped me to not listen to my fears but to trust God through them.
The devil is really coming against me right now. I am feeling like what is the point of life at this point. My son is off at college, my mom died 9 months ago, I broke up with my boyfriend this year and have not a lot of motivation to keep going. I have a good job and a beautiful son and am truly blessed with our relationship and have many blessings and things to be grateful for, yet it doesn’t seem to be enough. I have been reading Gods word and listening to Elevation Church online, Joyce Meyer. I am just in a bad spot now and depressed and I know I will get through it by the grace of God.
The Lord has taught me so much through the years and we will let others down as they will also. But if we know that and have the gift of mercy and compassion and understanding all will be put into the right prospective.
I recently went to visit my son in Seattle. I was very excited to go and as much as I loved seeing my son it was also sad because even though I am sold out for the Lord he has yet to be. I have prayed so many years and am still praying and believe with all my heart that a time is coming for his heart to be the Lord’s. But upon coming home I so appreciated my relationship with the Lord, my home, my lovely plants, and all that the Lord has given me. I am so comforted to know that no matter what is happening around me, I am covered, loved and cared for by our loving Father. We do learn in the hardships of life to dig our heals in, forgive and live in peace and light..
Blessings, Diane Arndt
This devotional was a great reminder that I won’t be able to please everyone, sometimes I will let people down and that’s ok. I am human.
Thanks for this devo! My 12 year old son and I homeschool together, and we have really been struggling with these types of feelings and attacks this week. I started reading this to myself, and then immediately started over, reading aloud to him as well. He payed attention throughout and even asked who wrote that…very big compliment from the boy whose apparent apathy for all things “Mom” has grown in direct proportion to his feet and hair. 😉
Anyway, thanks for opening this door for us to have an uplifting and honest conversation about God’s unfailing love for us!
It always amazes me how some days the devotionals seem to be tailor made to what my heart needs to hear. I’ve felt like such a failure today so this was just what I needed to hear at just the right time. I would love to read A Confident Heart Devotional. It soulds like it is just what I need everyday.
Thanks
I often think this way when it comes to my children and providing for them. Sure I provide what they “need”. But its sometimes the things they want that I feel I let them down.
For example: my eldest just graduated from High School. All her friends are now gone to college except her.
I feel as though she is missing out on her college/friend experience and somehow I have let her down.
Although I know it is not entirely me, she did have a hand in her own outcome (ie not finishing a class online and not registering and not having the grades needed). However, the pain and guilt seem to be the same.
Also with my youngest child (16) going through some friendship situations. I feel I let her down in not knowing how to pick the friends that are your actual friends and knowing that meaning. Not rainy day or when things are good they want to be around. Actual real good life long friends that stand up for her as much as she stands up for them.
Lessons we all learn and have to go through, however, still does not make it easy in a mom’s heart.
Thanks for sharing this devotional. I need to pin it up as a daily reminder. My cultural background and upbringing made me hold a high standard to myself and others. Not only that I need to remember this motto for myself, but I also like to remember it for those around me and be pleased with their best, no matter what the outcome of their effort is. Thanks again!
Thank you for this devotional. It seems daily I’m reminded I am good enough in God’s eyes. I grew up in a divided household where my mom was a believer and my dad a fallen believer. It seems I never measured up in my parents eyes which in turn I grew up being a perfectionist always putting myself down in my mind and later becoming a huge people pleaser and having others put me down always wanting to be complimented for what I did do right. I seemed to need that to survive to just know I did something right. Slowly I am working thru this with God’s strength to hold me up. But the devil does play in my mind on a daily multiple times a day basis. With god I will get thru this he reminds me often I am good enough I am who he built me to be. And i will conquer satan as many times as needed in all areas. Thank you so much for understanding what I believe all women believers and nonbelievers go thru daily. Bless you.
I’ve been sharing with all my friends to visit this website for it’s motivational and thought provoking content. I am blessed every day, in different ways. Thank you!
Man looks on the outward things they see but God looks at our heart, our attitude and what we do because of our love for Him.
I so understand that feeling of, “Oh, I failed again.” It is something I am working on with the Lord. There is no way I can always be that perfect wife, mother, daughter, sister, and /or friend. I am trying to learn to just be me and what that means.
Thank you so much for this; I continually struggle with feeling good enough. I hope I can take these words to heart and realize that I am good enough!
I read your encouraging words on the Proverbs 31 blog and they resonate with feelings I have battled for most of my life. No matter how hard I ever tried, my efforts were met with critical words from important family members. I have been set free in Christ and no longer need to accept my failure to satisfy someone else. Our God knows our heart and when we give our very best to serve him- that is enough! Thank you for your message!
Thank you so much for these words and exactly the right time! God knows timing! I have had a couple of weeks of work where I am fixing and cleaning up problems created by others, but yet I feel the boss only sees his work as being done correctly and no one else, including mine own. These words from God helps so much! Thank you.
I just read a quote today: ” My imperfections will never override God’s promises. God’s promises are not dependent on my ability to always choose well, but rather on His ability to use well.” By Lysa Terkeurst. Those words of truth paired with your devotional, was what God used to set me free today! My heart thanks you.
My life has been in a wait and see mode for so long… that is my normal. Without my blog sisters encouraging me everyday I would not make it. For the past three years God has been doing a new thing…. tomorrow. Road worn I can say today… it is well with you soul.