Visual Journal Prompt: Failure
Shifting Paths, Unchanging Compass
Enjoy the Encouraging Bible Verses Below
Scripture reminds us that failure isn’t the end; it’s often the start of growth, courage, and deeper dependence on God. His strength shines brightest in our struggles
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a “good” path will always feel easy and that we should avoid struggle at all costs. We can’t see the bigger story God is writing through such a narrow lens. We don’t know where the easy or hard paths will lead and if God promises to weave all things together for His good, then we can’t let the difficulty or ease of a path determine whether it’s the right one.
Don’t let the ease or difficulty of a path decide your direction. Instead, reach for your true compass, something that points you in the right direction, no matter how easy or difficult the terrain. God’s guidance isn’t based on how smooth the road looks but on where He’s calling you to go. When we stop following comfort and start following Christ, we find ourselves on the right path, even if it’s uphill.
Easy of Difficult
Are you letting the appearance of the path, whether it's easy or difficult, determine your direction? Or are you guided by a compass that leads you the right way, regardless of the terrain?
Finally, I urge you to check where your compass is aligned. Is it set toward God or toward your own preferred path? What do you think will hold? The desires I chase in this world will fade, and the failures that come from chasing them can overwhelm me. But there is One who has overcome the world. And because of Him, failure doesn’t have the final word; He does. He’s already won.
And in that freedom, failure become places of growth, opportunities to draw closer to Christ, and blessings to rest in. So go ahead, embrace the gift of failing, struggling, and succeeding, because that’s where we encounter God and realize that He’s already won.
So, with your compass, are we seeking God and praying for guidance in the direction we should take? The real question isn’t about ease or difficulty—it’s this: Am I following what God is calling or asking me to do, despite whether it’s easy of hard?
Scripture
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Quote
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with ashes.'”
Elisabeth Elliot
Stories
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (Pauls Thorn)
Difficulty doesn’t mean we’re off God’s path but that His power is at work through us.
Exodus 4:1-17 ( Moses Doubts His Ability)
God equips us for His calling, even when we feel inadequate. Our weakness doesn’t disqualify us from His purpose.
Judges 6:11-16 (Gideon Feels Unqualified)
Feeling unqualified won’t stop Him from using us for His purposes.
Humanity
Studies have found that when people take the time to reflect on their failures, like in the work by Eskreis-Winkler and Fishbach (2016), they tend to improve more over time. Our brains are wired for this too: Moser and colleagues (2011) discovered that people who believe they can grow from mistakes actually show stronger brain responses after messing up, which helps them learn faster.
Enjoy the Encouraging Bible Verses
Journal Prompts
Where in my life have I been using ease or comfort as the main indicator that I’m on the “right” path? How might I be ignoring God’s direction simply because it feels hard or uncertain?
What recent struggle or failure have I experienced that might actually be an invitation to grow or depend more deeply on God? How is God meeting me in that place today?
Am I actively seeking God’s guidance in my decisions, or just hoping the path feels smooth? What might it look like for me to follow God’s calling, even if it leads uphill?
In what ways am I still tying my identity to success or failure?
How can I begin to rest more fully in the truth that Jesus has already secured my victory?