Weekly Magazine | Faith After Failure
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Dear Friends,
Failure has a way of stopping us in our tracks, doesn’t it? One unexpected moment—one decision we wish we could undo, one season we never imagined walking through—and suddenly we find ourselves sitting on a “bench” we never planned on.
We’ve all found ourselves in an uncomfortable place where we’ve wondered, “Where are you in all this, God?”
Here’s the truth, what we think of as failure is often a place where God brings us closer to Him. Throughout Scripture, God meets His people in the ruins of their plans, not the perfection of their performance. Peter on the shoreline, David in repentance, Elijah under the broom tree—God whispers the same invitation: “Your story isn’t over. Walk with Me.”
This week, we look honestly at our setbacks, disappointments, and detours, and ask God to breathe fresh strength into the places that feel broken. Let’s move forward together, remembering that grace rewrites even the chapters we’d rather tear out.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
The Gift of Failure | Lori Ann Wood
Lori reflects on childhood regret, painful diagnoses, and the surprising ways God turns our missteps into places of growth. Through honest storytelling, she shows how failure—far from disqualifying us—can actually anchor us deeper into grace and community.
When God’s Plan Unfolds in Perfect Timing | Dianne McKim
After job loss, loneliness, and discouragement, Dianne discovers God’s purposeful orchestration behind what felt like her greatest setback. Her story reveals how God meets us in the wilderness and writes new beginnings exactly when we need them most.
When My Life Is Derailed, How Do I Respond? | Beckie Fanous
Beckie shares the deep grief of being sidelined from ministry and identity. Yet in the stillness, she was reminded of the presence of Jesus—who stays, who understands, and who transforms our pain into a deeper relationship with Him.
Also:
Journey with Jesus
The Gift of Failure
Finding Grace in What Goes Wrong.
By Lori Ann Wood
All my life, I have avoided failure at any cost.
But I’ve learned that, sometimes, it just sneaks up on you.
In junior high, I attended my younger brother’s winter concert in the school gym. When I arrived, some older kids motioned for me to join their group. Feeling unexpectedly flattered and uncharacteristically bold, I decided to accept their invitation instead of sitting with my parents. These super-cool kids, not wanting to appear too interested in the program, had a section at the top of the bleachers toward the back.
The lights dimmed, and the janitor-turned-pianist began to play “Winter Wonderland.” The crowd hushed as a fourth grader in his dad’s suit walked down the center aisle, throwing miniature marshmallows into the crowd on either side. Somehow, several of the little “snowballs” made it up to our back row. A couple of daring kids in the group began to throw them back—throughout the entire program. I cringed at their disobedience, ignoring their encouragement to join in.
The next day at school, the principal summoned me into his office.
