Moving from failure to success (1) - All The Word for Today Daily Devotionals for 2026

‘This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands,...’ 1 Samuel 17:46 NIV

Everyone who ever achieved anything significant had to beat the odds. The problem for most of us isn’t the odds; it’s that we sell ourselves short. As American politician Richard H. Headlee observed, ‘Most people think too small, aim too low, and quit too soon.’ The odds in favour of David defeating Goliath weren’t good. Unless you factor faith in God into the equation, which David did. Listen to his words: ‘… I’ll strike you down and cut off your head …’ (1 Samuel 17:46 NIV). Clearly, David was aiming high.

And when it comes to the thing God is calling you to do, aim high. The odds matter little. Whether you fall down along the way matters little. You fell when you were learning to walk, didn’t you? American writer, Dr Maxwell Maltz says, ‘You’re a champion in the art of living if you reach only 65 per cent of your goals.’ If the odds indicate you will make a lot of mistakes on your way to success, so be it. As long as you’re eventually successful, isn’t that what matters? Remember, ‘If at first you don’t succeed – you know you’re running about average!’

As long as you keep trusting God and trying, He will come to your aid. James writes, ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him’ (James 1:12 NIV). Paul writes, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9 NIV). When you believe God wants you to succeed, and you persevere, you move from failure to success.

SoulFood: Deut 8-10 Mark 6:30-44 Ps 37:8-15 Pro 11:27-29