“You’re a Failure”…and Other Lies You Believe
Let’s talk about the most common lies you’re believing and how to start telling yourself the truth.
If we’re going to talk about lies and the truth, we need to clarify where they come from.
TRUTH
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does. (Psalm 33:4 NIV)
The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:60 NKJV)
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
We find the truth in God’s Word.
LIES
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44 NKJV)
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. (Psalm 101:7)
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, (Colossians 3:9-10 NKJV)
God’s Word tells us that the devil is the father of lies and that we shouldn’t lie because we’ve put off our old nature as children of God. It also warns that people who practice deceitfulness won’t be in God’s presence.
We can determine that if it doesn’t line up with God’s Word, it’s a lie.
COMMON LIES YOU BELIEVE
Lie #1
You’re a Failure
THE TRUTH
There is no doubt that you’ve made mistakes, but you are not a failure. The righteous fall, but they repent and forgive quickly—and get back up. Remember, you can do all things through Christ. Find out who you are by looking up scriptures that say, “in Him, in Whom, in Christ…”
What God’s Word Says:
- The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (Proverbs 24:16 NLT) - But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9 NLT)
- For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength.(Philippians 4:13 NLT)
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Lie #2
This is How it Will Always Be [Your Situation Will Never Change]
THE TRUTH
Thinking that “this is just how it will always be…” or that your situation can never change is a form of hopelessness and that isn’t part of God’s character. For example, In Jeremiah 29:11, we see His response to the children of Israel who had been carried off after invaders attacked them. Even though they had put themselves in that mess, God’s message was one of hope and telling them He still had good plans for them. Whether your situation is of your own making or you it’s outside your control, you are not in a hopeless situation.
What God’s Word Says:
- Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13 NLT)
- Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10 NLT)
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Lie #3
I’d be fine if it weren’t for ______.
THE TRUTH
It’s easy to fall for this lie because it makes us feel good and removes any responsibility from us, but it’s a lie nonetheless. The same way you aren’t left hopeless (like we discussed in lie #2), you also have a role to play in your situation improving. If you find yourself saying or thinking that, “I’d be fine if it weren’t for them,” just stop yourself and remember these scriptures below. Even if it’s through no fault of your own, you still have a role to play in improving the situation.
If you don’t really get a hold of this truth, you’ll spend your life upset because the moment one person stops bothering you, another person will start.
What God’s Word says:
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22 NIV)
This means that as children of God, we should (and have the ability to) bear this kind of fruit (behavior).
- Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (Romans 12:3 NLT)
- God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9 NLT)
Measure your thoughts with this —
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)
The Take Away
Tell yourself the truth. That means you need to tell yourself what God’s Word says. In order to tell yourself what God’s Word says you need to know what it says, which means you need to read it regularly. Study the Word. Think about the Word. This isn’t for spiritual brownie points, but to get wisdom and understanding.
