How Should I Respond To Failure Or Setbacks?

Joshua 7-10

      When the men of Israel returned in defeat at Ai, Joshua needed some answers and so turned immediately to prayer.  He tore his garments, an act of grief, and fell on his face in humiliations before the ark of the covenant until nightfall.  All of the elders joined him.  Joshua cried out to God, “Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all – to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?” (Josh. 7:7).

      Joshua asked the wrong questions – a questions many of us ask when unexpected trouble strikes.  Our first impulse is often to blame God for the tragedy or problem act overwhelms us.  We cry out, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?  Why did you allow me to get in this mess?” Usually, these are exactly the wrong questions to ask.  Consider a few more appropriate questions: “What may I have done wrong?  What can I do to correct this situation?”

      Sometimes we need to change a habit or correct a bad attitude.  We may need to confront our own sin and errors.  God is usually far from the cause of our trouble.  We human beings are at fault, either collectively or individually.

      When Joshua ceased pouring out his hurt, frustration, and questions, God said, Get up!  Why do you lie thus on your face?  Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them” (Josh. 7: 10-11).

      When we go to God in prayer, we must be willing to hear what He says.  Often, we never stop to listen to Him.  We must learn to wait when we voice our petitions, to hear His response.

      This is especially true when we pray in the aftermath of a setback or defeat.  It is also vitally important that we do this anytime we find ourselves blaming God for our troubles.  We must be willing to listen for His explanation, which often includes a correction.

      Once the Lord reveals to us what we need to do, the time for prayer has ended.  Nothing more needed to be said – no excuses, no attempts to justify what we have done.  We must accept what the Lord says and immediately move to obey Him.  Our obedience may include asking Him to forgive us and to help us to obey Him in the future.  But our obedience must follow quickly.  Usually this requires that we make amends or take specific actions that will help right the wrong.

      We know that God eventually gave Joshua the victory over Ai (see Josh. 8:28).  And, if fact, God gave Israel even greater, more miraculous triumphs – such as their success over the Amorites, where God sent hail to kill the enemy and stopped the sun in the sky so the Israelites could prevail (see Josh. 10: 11-14).

      God will be with you as well – and He will continue to work through you powerfully.  Don’t allow your setback to be the end of your wonderful journey with God.  Rather, obey Him, accept His forgiveness, and move on.

Stanley, Charles F. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible. Thomas Nelson, 2007.

https://www.foxhillfarmleather.com/PROD/460.html