J. R. Miller wrote, “If we had but one chance in life it would fare badly with most of us. We do scarcely anything perfectly the first time we try to do it. Nearly always do we fail. Not many lives are lived beautifully, without a break or a lapse, from childhood to age. If, therefore, the opportunity of choosing good came to us only once, and was forever withdrawn, few of us would make anything of our life.”
How thankful we ought to be for second chances! We ought to be glad that the Divine Potter doesn’t throw the clay away. Out of loving patience and with unequalled wisdom and skill He takes the marred vessel and makes “it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”( Jer. 18:4). History is filled with examples of those who recovered from a fall. Not only did they merely recover, the experience enabled them to minister to others in a unique way. They teach us that failure doesn’t have to be fatal, final. or futile.
Remember this—failing doesn’t make you a failure! Everyone fails, but you aren’t a failure until you give up and refuse to obey God. Failure doesn’t have to be final. With God there is always hope, if we but trust Him. Forget the past. Focus on the future possibilities that are sure to come when we come to God in repentance.
