Fifteen years ago today, we shut down the first church I ever pastored for a long list of reasons. At the time, it felt like a massive failure both personally and professionally. (Honestly, I saw myself as the failure not the church.) I thought my life was over and that God was done with me. I was so very wrong.
In fact, I can now see how God has redeemed that near-devastating experience in just about every way. Over the years, He has actually used it time and time again to improve me, my ministry, and my life.
The truth is that our “failures” always teach us more than our successes. They also tend to make us more gracious towards others, less quick to judge, and generally more thankful for the good things sprinkled into our lives.
Was it fun? No. Would I do it all over again? Not willingly. What is worth it? Yes. Did God use it and redeem it? Certainly.
Whatever you’ve done, or whatever has been done to you, realize that past mistakes don’t define you. (God looks at them as refining moments, not defining moments.) You’re more than your past.
As long as you’re still breathing, you can be assured that God is not done with you.
Well I for one am glad your first church “failed”… cause if it hadn’t then I wouldn’t have the extreme pleasure of having you in Buford as my pastor! I know purely selfish reason ! … but I feel truly blessed to be a part of Fusion Church & getting to listen to your amazing sermons each week…my life has changed radically these past 2 1/2 years since finding you & Fusion & for that I am eternally grateful.. Thank you for what you allow God to do through you
Lori, as always, thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad that the Lord has used Fusion in such a powerful way in your life. God is so good.
Thank you for this. As a young pastor I often feel the weight of my failures with a lack of perspective. Getting to hear about how God continues to use us through our failures is such an encouragement.
if you’re not dead, you’re not done!
If you’re not dead, HE’S not done! :)