What steps can we take to seek God's guidance in times of failure? Failure That Sends Us to Our Knees “When the Canaanites and all the other people of the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” (Joshua 7:9) Joshua’s anguished words after Israel’s crushing defeat at Ai give us a roadmap for turning failure into fresh dependence on God. Step 1: Pour Out Your Heart Honestly • Joshua fell facedown (7:6) and voiced his fears without varnish. • God welcomes transparency. See Psalm 62:8—“Pour out your hearts before Him.” • Naming the loss before Him keeps bitterness from taking root. Step 2: Focus on God’s Honor, Not Your Image • Joshua’s chief concern: “What will You do for Your great name?” • Shifting attention from personal embarrassment to God’s reputation reorients motives. • Compare 1 Samuel 12:22—God “will not abandon His people, for His great name’s sake.” Step 3: Invite a Spiritual Inspection • The Lord replied, “Stand up… Israel has sinned” (7:10–11). • Ask Him to search the “camp” of your life: – Psalm 139:23-24—“Search me, O God… lead me.” – Proverbs 28:13—unconfessed sin blocks progress. • Be ready for conviction that pinpoints attitudes, actions, or alliances needing removal. Step 4: Confess and Clean House • God said, “You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove [the devoted things]” (7:13). • Practical follow-through: – Admit the wrong (1 John 1:9). – Renounce it; set safeguards so it cannot return. – Restore what was damaged, if restitution is possible. Step 5: Seek Fresh Wisdom • Failure often leaves us disoriented. • James 1:5 promises guidance to those who ask “without finding fault.” • Listen in Scripture, counsel, and quiet attentiveness for the next clear step. Step 6: Obey Promptly and Completely • Joshua rose early, gathered the tribes, and dealt with Achan the very day God spoke (7:16-26). • Partial obedience invites repeated defeat; full obedience restores momentum. Step 7: Move Forward in Renewed Confidence • After cleansing, the Lord announced, “Do not be afraid; take the whole army with you” (8:1). • Psalm 32:8 echoes this assurance: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.” • Keep eyes on the path ahead, not the wreckage behind (Philippians 3:13-14). Step 8: Stay Tuned to His Voice • Isaiah 30:21—“This is the way; walk in it.” Continuous listening prevents repeated stumbles. • Regularly revisit these steps so small missteps never swell into major collapses. By following Joshua’s pattern—honest lament, concern for God’s name, thorough repentance, eager obedience—we position ourselves to receive clear, restoring guidance whenever failure strikes. |
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