Best Verses for When You Feel Like You’ve Failed

Ever have one of those ideas you just knew was from God? You believed without a doubt He gave you crystal clear direction to take a step of faith. But halfway into this new adventure, things went downhill fast. Before you knew it, the idea flopped.

You felt like you failed.

Or maybe you tried and tried to make a connection with your teen, but they put up another wall with every attempt at conversation. Instead of growing closer, you seemed to drift further apart. 

You felt like you failed as a mom.

There are so many areas of life where we can feel like we’ve failed.

When things don’t go the way we think they should or our plans get derailed. Discouraging thoughts cause us to question our abilities or even our value. That’s why we need verses to turn those thoughts around and speak truth to our hearts when we feel like we’ve failed.

The First Step Is to Realize We Haven’t Failed

Defeated thoughts can creep into any area of our lives. We may feel like we’ve failed as a friend, spouse, or parent when we let mistakes rule our thoughts or determine our worth. New business ventures we’re sure will take off end up floundering, until we’re forced to give up. Job loss, marriage struggles, and more are at risk. But those thoughts of feeling like a failure are based on lies we believe rather than God’s Truth.

So instead of waiting for those negative thoughts to come, we can be ready before discouragement sets in. The first step is to realize this. Failure— to our human minds— can contradict what God’s Word says.

What we consider our worst failures, God will use to bring us into total dependence on Him.

Here are the best verses to read when you feel like you’ve failed. Let these verses encourage and strengthen you today. We are not failures. We are victorious through Jesus!

Verses for When You Feel Like You’ve Failed

1. “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 NLT

2. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12 NIV

3. “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 NLT

4. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 NLT

5. “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 NLT

Changing Our Thoughts About Failing

Has God placed something in your heart that is going to take an extra ounce of courage? Have you been dreaming about the possibilities but stopped short because of fear that you might fail? Let’s take a first bold step together by changing our perspective on failing.

This past year, I felt certain God opened a door for me to do something new, different, and out of my comfort zone. I planned. I prepared. I got halfway into the project, and instead of flourishing the way I had hoped, it withered.

When that happens, I’m tempted to ask God why. To spend precious time trying to figure out what went wrong or wonder if I missed God. But questioning is a waste of time. God is faithful, even if my ideas fall flat or plans stall out altogether. So rather than questioning, we can pray and give the remnants to God. He can use even the scraps of our obedience for his glory.

A Prayer to Give My Failures to God

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your presence in my life. I don’t know what I would do without your love and mercy. Thank you for giving me your word of truth when I think I’ve failed. Thank you for speaking life to those negative thoughts, giving me freedom from thinking failure is final.

Just like a child, sometimes fear takes over. I make a mistake when trying something new, so I’m afraid to try again. Help me hear your compassionate voice encouraging me to go on. Give me confidence through your Holy Spirit and wisdom to know the truth. What I see as failure could be the next step in your plan for my life. Failure strengthens me and teaches me to depend on you.

Thank you for accepting my efforts as an offering. I want to walk in obedience every day and move forward with hope as you guide me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.