To Stumble and Fall

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

— Romans 15:13

Bankruptcy. Dianna even hated the sound of the word. It represented everything she dreaded: the loss of her business, her home, her way of life. She’d stepped out on her own, convinced that her little company could succeed in a changing marketplace. And at first her dreams seemed to come true. She could work at home, take care of her daughter and still network with her colleagues. For more than two years, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Then, all of a sudden, other people opened competing businesses, and all of her success stopped.

She had failed. Friends and colleagues were quick to say, “I told you so,” which only added to her despair. Even people in her church looked away when she entered a room. Finally, Dianna moved with her daughter into a small apartment and re-entered the job market.

She didn’t have a lot of prospects. But she did have her faith. God would never leave her. He’d promised that. And He wanted what was best for her. He had a plan for her, even if she couldn’t see it in that moment. That belief kept Dianna’s fragile hope alive. And it was all she needed when she accepted a new job, which was a great fit for her experience and gifts.

Inevitably, we all will fail. It may not be in a business like Dianna’s, but we all make mistakes, wrong turns and bad choices. Failing hurts, and it can devastate us. But when we believe that God loves us with a love that never fails, we can be filled with a hope that is truly from Him.

Today’s One Thing

Consider a time when God eased the grief of a poor decision you made, and spend time thanking Him for His faithfulness.

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