September 14
Falling but
Not Failing
"Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil trip and fall when trouble comes."
Proverbs 24:16 (NIrV)
Jeremy sat in the waiting area of the test center, his hands clenched into fists. Seven times he had sat here, and seven times he had walked out defeated. The instructors were beginning to recognize him. He imagined them whispering, Here comes the guy who always fails. The thought made his stomach turn.
He had done everything he could—studied the handbook, practiced with his dad until the engine noise became background sound, memorized every possible mistake he had made before. And yet, something always went wrong. A rolling stop, forgetting to check a blind spot, nerves that turned his hands clammy on the wheel. Maybe he just wasn’t meant to drive.
After his last failure, he had nearly given up. He had told his dad he was done. “Maybe I should just find a job that doesn’t need a car,” he had muttered.
His dad’s response had been gentle but firm. “Jeremy, you’re only a failure if you quit. You’ll never pass if you don’t try again.”
That night, lying in bed, he wrestled with his frustration. He opened his Bible app and scrolled through the verse of the day: "Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up." His breath caught. Seven times. He had failed exactly seven times.
He whispered into the darkness, "God, I don’t want to do this again. But I know I need to. Give me the strength to get up."
The next morning, he booked his eighth test. The day of the exam, he was nervous, but something had shifted. His failures didn’t define him—his perseverance did. He adjusted his mirrors, took a deep breath, and trusted in what he had learned.
Forty-five minutes later, he pulled back into the test center. The instructor made a note on the clipboard and turned to him. "Congratulations, Jeremy. You passed."
For a moment, he couldn’t believe it. But then, a slow smile spread across his face. He had done it. He had gotten back up, and this time, he had won.
Prayer:
Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that failure is not final.
Help me to persevere when I feel discouraged, to trust that You are with me even when I fall.
Give me the strength to rise again and keep moving forward.
May I always remember that victory comes through faith and perseverance.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
