When Failure Opens the Door

Failure. 

Just the word can cause a pit in your stomach.

On Wednesday night I had the privilege of celebrating a group of high‑achieving high‑schoolers—not for stellar test scores, but for quiet character. These students have battled through life, making the right choices even when no one was watching. The keynote was motivational speaker Joe Beckman, who reminded us that failure "makes us real." Fitting, isn’t it? In a room applauding character, we paused to honor the mis‑steps that shape us.

Every one of us keeps a highlight reel of mis‑steps—some slap‑your‑forehead funny, others painful.

My not‑so‑shiny record

College “no.” 

I missed the cut for nursing school—my carefully sketched plan was vetoed with a thin envelope and a single word: denied.

The other side of the story: 

That slammed door cleared my calendar for an adventure in Africa, where I stepped into hospitals not to treat medical needs but to minister to spiritual ones.

Calendar chaos. 

This week I strode into my boss’s office—notes in hand—a full 24 hours early.

The other side of the story: 

Instead of condemnation I got a chuckle, a gracious reschedule, and a reminder that humility builds stronger teams than perfection ever will.

Parenting flops. 

Yesterday’s tally: impatience during the morning chaos, snapping at bedtime, forgetting milk money—again.

The other side of the story: 

As I worked on my apology skills, my girls (and I) learned about confession, forgiveness, and fresh starts.

David’s detours

King David logged some epic failures—adultery, deception, even coordinating a murder—and the Bible still calls him “a man after God’s own heart.” How? Because every face-plant failure became an opportunity for the other side of the story.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”— Psalm 51:17 ESV

At David’s lowest point he chose worship, not a pity party.

What God does with our mess:

• Redirects our path. “A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.” —Proverbs 16:9

  
  

• Reminds us who’s writing the story. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son… and those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” —Romans 8:28‑30

  
  

Falling forward this week

1. Name it. Admit the flop instead of burying it.

   
   

2. Own it. Apologize where needed—kids, colleagues, self.

   
   

3. Frame it. Ask, “What doorway might God be cracking open right here?”

   
   

4. Move again. “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” —Proverbs 24:16

   
   

Failure isn’t an end; it’s a trail marker. Every mis‑step, early arrival, or mom‑moment meltdown can point me toward the God who trades ashes for beauty and setbacks for stories worth telling.

Here’s to falling forward—and trusting the Author who never wastes a single stumble.