Devotionals for the Heart: How to "fail forward" in the New Year 2024

Failing Forward in 2024
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“The LORD upholds all who are falling down and raises up all who are bowed down.”

—Psalms 145:14 (ESV)

It is that time of the year when many of us make covenants with God, friends and family to lose weight, save money, do things differently and achieve specific objectives. Optimistically, we plunge into the new year determined to keep our promises. We have done this successfully for decades.

Without this thrust for better habits and new experiences, we would never advance in life. Ambition is a good thing. It drives us academically, professionally and spiritually. I am writing today to encourage you, in advance, to audit your progress and plan to alter your course if during your monthly or quarterly audits you find that your progress has stalled or your attempts have failed.

“Failing forward” is the principle that failures are necessary lessons in the art of success. Failures merely inform us of what did not work. They do not preclude future success. Failures are clarion calls to do differently on your next attempt.

Failing forward requires that you commit to missional resilience. Remember the statement, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”? Courage to try again and again, if necessary, is the key to failing forward. I have been disappointed, disheartened and occasionally ashamed, when I have experienced failure, especially when I could not deny that the failure was due to my lack of discipline. I was re-enthused when reminded by this text that divinity transforms the failures of those who humbly fail and spiritually try again, just as light eliminates darkness.

When failure finds you this year, don’t let it crush you. Find strength by humbly refocusing your efforts with spiritual lenses. The crushing blow of failure can become a stepping stone or a springboard. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and novelist Tom Clancy have been quoted saying something to the effect of, “it takes ten years to become an overnight success”.

Books do not write themselves. Business plans require research and formulation. Twenty pounds don’t just melt away. Saving $50,000 is not magical. Every enterprise requires methodical execution. Failed execution does not invalidate your ideas and goals.

As you enter into the New Year 2024, memorize this verse. Let it propel, enthuse, comfort and guide you. Know that when you fly high in pursuit of your dreams, if the bottom falls out, God is your parachute. When you try again—and you should—know that God will exalt your humble efforts. This year, fail forward with grace.

Let’s Pray: Thank You, dear God, for a new year. Whatever happens to and with us this year, we know that it happens in your presence. Give us confidence to march ahead daily and to pursue the purpose for which you gave us life. Through ups and downs, fits and starts, please catch us when we fall, renew us when we fail and restore Your image within us so that we can fail forward into Your providences. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio: 

Chaplain Anderson is the Director Emeritus of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries for the North American Division. In this role, he was the friend, advocate and gatekeeper for the profession of chaplaincy among Adventist pastors.

His new mission is to specialize in personal and personnel development coaching.

He journeys with and guides clients, personal and corporate, as they define their goals and grow into their full potential.

His pastoral career began in the Allegheny East Conference where he was ordained. 

Subsequently, he served in the Potomac Conference at the Sligo and Seabrook churches. His professional dream was to be a chaplain in the United States Navy. He got to live that dream and achieved the rank of Commander before retiring from Naval service in 2015 with 26 years of service.

Chaplain Anderson has earned four graduate degrees: He earned his Master of Divinity Degree was earned at the seminary at Andrews University. He earned a Master’s of Education from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Sacred Theology from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.

Chaplain Anderson and his wife Debra have been married for 41 years. They have two healthy, saved and well adjusted, adult children who picked good spouses and delivered four grandchildren.

Adventures through traveling, reading, praying, preaching, teaching and writing are the avenues of ministry and self-care that define his now and his destiny.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.