Failure

Failure appears in the falls and sins of God's people and in the failing of human strength. God restores those who fall, and his promises, unlike human strength, do not fail.

Human strength fails

• Psalm 73:26
  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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• Isaiah 40:30
  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
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God's promises do not fail

• Joshua 21:45
  There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
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• Joshua 23:14
  And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
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• 1 Kings 8:56
  Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.
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• Lamentations 3:22-23
  ²²It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
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Rising after a fall

• Proverbs 24:16
  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
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• Micah 7:8
  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
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• Psalm 37:23-24
  ²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. ²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
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• Psalm 145:14
  The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
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Restored after failure

• Luke 22:31-32
  ³¹And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. ³²But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
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• Luke 22:61-62
  ⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶²And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.And he went outside and wept bitterly.
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• John 21:15-17
  ¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” ¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
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• Psalm 51:10-12
  ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
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Pressing on

• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
  ⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
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• Philippians 3:13-14
  ¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
  Show context · Read Philippians 3 →

See also

• Success
• Repentance
• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Shame

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.