“MULL THINGS OVER”

15 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,”

Ephesians 5:15

Failure is something anyone, including the best of us, can encounter. But where we differ is in how we face life after it. So, what should we do in order to bounce back after a major letdown?

In our previous blog, we learned that pride alienates us from God. From this point on, we will steer our lesson toward a different direction.

Failure: What to Do to Bounce Back

Contemplate.

Failure is a humbling experience, but it’s also a good opportunity to think and find out how you got there, in the first place.

In today’s verse, Paul urges the Ephesians to exercise discernment. He tells them to live as they should. Since they have been enlightened by Scripture, they should now pay close attention to their personal conduct. This way, they may lead pure, godly lives—unstained by the world.

The same is expected of you and me. The light of the Gospel should saturate our hearts and help us live self-controlled, Christ-centered lives. But we have an enemy who is out trying to rob us of peace and joy. And he is a very shrewd, crafty trickster.

One of the enemy’s fiery darts he throws at us is deception. He has a way of making something look or sound good when it is innately evil. Without biblical discernment, we can fall prey to his enticement of false assurance. He will tell us things like, “It’s okay to do it again. God will forgive you, anyway.” Without biblical discernment, he can lead us into thinking God will sweep our sin under the rug. But no matter how good it sounds, it’s all a lie.

That said, it is not just the enemy that can deceive us. We can also misguide ourselves. The Bible tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). Since our hearts cannot be trusted, we can’t let them have control over our minds.

In a moment of failure, consider taking a pause and remember what God’s word tells you. After all, His word alone is truly trustworthy. Whatever God says is the truth, whether we agree with Him or not.

Pursue the Savior today!