I’ll be the first to tell you, failure is a tough pill to swallow. We don’t like to talk about it. It’s that shame that creeps in when we’ve missed the mark, fallen short. Don’t get me started on the feeling that we’ve let God down; unh unh I don’t even want to talk about it. I mean, who wants to be vulnerable enough to admit that they’ve messed up? The weight of failure often feels like a mountain on our shoulders, and all we can think is, “What now? What do I do with this pile of do do ca ca?” Oh, but when failure meets mercy…now that’s a game changer!
But here’s the thing: in the very place where we believe we’re disqualified, where we’re tempted to throw in the towel, God’s mercy is not absent…it’s right there, waiting to meet us in our brokenness. And let me tell you something, God’s mercy isn’t just an afterthought. It’s the very thing that holds us together when we feel like we’re falling apart.
I’ve been there, you know. I’ve faced moments where I felt like I’d failed not just God but myself. And in those moments, the voice of condemnation is loud, it’s relentless, and belligerent, “You can’t come back from this. You’ve messed up too many times.”
But then there’s another voice, talking through the mess: “My mercy is new every morning.” I respond, “Well I be doggone…it is, isn’t it?”
That voice is from the very heart of God, and it’s a truth that we must cling to: failure is never the end when we’re in the hands of a merciful God.
The Greatness of God’s Mercy
In Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV), we are reminded of something incredible: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
This is powerful. It’s not just a comforting verse for when things are going well, but it’s a promise of new beginnings every single day. Let that sink in. Every day is a fresh start in God’s eyes, no matter how many times we’ve failed, no matter how many times we’ve missed the mark.
I’ve learned that God’s mercy doesn’t wait for me to be perfect before showing up. It’s not a conditional mercy; it’s an unconditional love that meets us right in the middle of our mess. That means even when we fall, God’s mercy covers us. It’s there when we’re struggling, when we’re embarrassed by our mistakes, and when we’re feeling like we’ve lost our way.
And do you know what I love about God’s mercy? It doesn’t run out. When we’ve drained our own reserves, when we’re out of grace for ourselves, His mercy is still overflowing, waiting to lift us back up. The compassion of God is like an ocean that never runs dry, no matter how deep we sink.
Mercy, Not Condemnation
Come on, lean in so I can tell you a secret. GOD DOESN’T SEE FAILURE AS THE FINAL VERDICT! My bad, I didn’t mean to yell. Society tells us that if we don’t get it right, we’re out. The world will tell you that if you fail, you’ve got to hide, you’ve got to work harder to prove yourself, or worse, you’re canceled. That’s the world’s system—but that’s not how God works.
In the world, failure equals judgment. But in the Kingdom of God, failure equals mercy.
Jesus took the shame of our failures to the cross, and He turned it into grace. He said, “You are forgiven. You are not defined by your mistakes, but by my love.”
Think about the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11 (NIV)). Can we talk about the lopsided views that were even present before we had AI and self-driving vehicles? I digress, yes, they dragged a woman caught in an act that required at least two people. Everyone else saw her failure and was ready to stone her, but Jesus saw her potential for redemption. He didn’t say, “You’re free to go because you’re perfect now.” No, He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” His mercy met her at the moment of her deepest shame, and from that moment, she had the opportunity to walk in freedom.
This is the kind of mercy we have access to, and it’s not a once-in-a-lifetime experience—it’s something we can live in every day.
Practical Ways to Live in God’s Mercy
So how do we practically live in God’s mercy in the face of our failure? How do we embrace the mercy that is new every morning and not let our past mistakes define our future? Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
1. Embrace your mistakes without letting them define you.
When you mess up (and you will), don’t rush to condemnation. Own your mistakes, acknowledge them, and then ask for God’s forgiveness. But don’t let them make you think you’re unworthy of God’s love. His mercy doesn’t need you to be perfect to show up, it just needs you to be willing to receive it.
2. Pray for a fresh revelation of God’s mercy every morning.
Just like Lamentations 3:23 (NIV) says, God’s mercy is new every morning. I’ve started making it a habit to remind myself of that truth when I wake up. No matter how yesterday went, God’s mercy is waiting to meet me today. And that changes errrrything.
3. Forgive yourself, just like God forgives you.
Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. We hold onto guilt long after God has let it go. But living in God’s mercy means learning to extend that same forgiveness to ourselves. It’s about letting go of the shame that tries to keep us stuck and walking in the freedom of forgiveness.
4. Show mercy to others.
One of the ways we can walk out God’s mercy is by extending it to those around us. When others fail or mess up, we can choose to show them grace instead of judgment. God’s mercy becomes a living, breathing part of us when we practice it toward others.
The Freedom Found in Mercy
When we embrace God’s mercy in the face of our failure, we begin to live free. We no longer carry the burden of guilt and shame. We walk boldly in the truth that God’s love covers us, and we’re empowered to keep moving forward. Failure doesn’t get the last word—God’s mercy does.
The mercy that is new every morning is the mercy that has already forgiven us, redeemed us, and is actively transforming us into the people He has called us to be. So no matter how many times you’ve stumbled, no matter how many times you’ve fallen short, God’s mercy is here to lift you back up.
Choose to live in that mercy today. It’s waiting for you.
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All Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV), unless otherwise noted.