How to Be Okay With Failing

What expectations are you trying to meet?

Better yet, whose expectations are you trying to live up to?

My list is long. I’m trying hard to be a good daughter, sister, wife, friend, coworker, employee, writer, host, church member, renter, and citizen. I want my husband to like the food I cook for him. I want my landlord to think I’m clean. I want my friend to be assured I’m trustworthy. I want my boss to be impressed with my organizational skills.

And when I fail . . . it’s obviously the end of the world, right? I curl into a ball and cry and worry that I’ll be fired or abandoned or ultimately, rejected.

I’m not the only one, am I?

The problem is, we can’t help but fail. There is simply not enough time in the day to do everything on our list, our words come out wrong, and we’re still growing as people.

It’s a hopeless cycle.

Until you enter Jesus into the equation. Jesus takes away the rejection and replaces it with grace. Jesus tells us what matters and what doesn’t. Jesus’ expectations are simple: obedience.

A guiding question in my life has become, “What are God’s expectations of me?”

His expectations are what matters. Why? Because he is wise, powerful, perfect, and good. Every other person’s expectations are limited (including our own) by selfishness, sin, or simple lack of knowledge.

God’s standard is perfection and grace all wrapped up in one. When we live following God’s standard, everything else falls into place:

• Loving God allows us to love others in exactly the way they need (whether they know it or not).
• Obeying God allows us to celebrate our days rather than bemoaning the tasks we didn’t accomplish.
• Prioritizing things based on the Bible makes us more strategic with our time and energy as we rely on God’s wisdom, not our own. See 1 Corinthians 1:25

Tonight, instead of feeling anxious and frustrated over failures, you could fall into bed delighted by God’s approval. If we have met God’s expectations, we’ve accomplished our purpose.

So I’ll ask: what are God’s expectations of you today? What does obedience to God look like? Set aside the rest.

God, thank you for the freedom found in obeying your commands. Would you take away any idolatry in my heart towards other people or accomplishments? Abba, I am ready to obey. What do you want me to do today?

Throughout this day: listen to Micah 6:8

in song.