Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 7:8-10 “Even if I cause you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

What to do when you fail!

“My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so the are the desires of my heart.” Job 17:11

I. SOME CAUSES OF FAILURE: A. We don’t plan ahead “To fail to plan is to plan to fail”

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him saying, ‘”this fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.” Luke 14:28-32

B. We think we have arrived “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 The main problem with the average American is that he thinks he is above average! “I don’t need any help!” When we think we have arrived we fail to study, listen and grow

“For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment… Romans 12:3 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” I Corinthians 10:12 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” I Peter 2:2 We often fail because we think we have arrived and don’t need to put any energy into growing.

C. We give up too soon “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 How many games are won in the last few seconds?

D. We don’t listen to God “There is a ways that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isa 55:9 God’s word is often the exact opposite of our natural inclinations. You will never find anything that is better for you than God’s way!

II. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ROYALLY MESS UP? A. Accept responsibility for your own failures “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13 This is also against our human nature You will never overcome a problem that you don’t admit you have!

B. Stop regretting and start repenting “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” II Cor 7:10 Two kinds of sorrow: 1. Godly—motivates you to change 2. Worldly—leads to depression Sometimes we need to fail. We learn lessons from failure that we could never learn from success.

C. Forget the past and focus on the future “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” Philippians 3:13 Good news!! The past is past. (That’s why we call it that)

D. Trust God to work it out. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Romans 8:28 God works in all my experiences to make the fabric of my life

SUMMARY: What to do when you fail: Accept responsibility for your own failures Stop regretting and start repenting Forget the past and focus on the future Trust in God to work it out