What felt like a failure might have been god's protection
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I remember years ago applying for a job at a factory. As part of the hiring process, I had to take an in-person mechanical aptitude and cognitive ability test. It didn’t go well. Minute after minute, I struggled through questions and mechanical problems while the man administering the test seemed to wear a slight smirk on his face. I failed miserably.
What made it even harder was knowing where I had just come from. I had been working in another factory where, honestly, the job came naturally to me. I excelled there. I don’t even remember taking a test to get that position, but whatever the process was, I passed well enough to become an employee and prove my value once I got on the floor.
Looking back now, what felt like failure may have actually been God’s protection. Had I gotten that job, the trajectory of my life might have been completely different. Maybe I wouldn’t have discovered the creativity God placed inside of me. Maybe I wouldn’t be painting, writing, speaking, or doing the work I’m doing today.
The truth is, I’ve never been a great test taker. Anxiety has always found a way to creep in, and my scores rarely reflected what I was actually capable of. But a test has never been the full measure of a person.
There are things I may not figure out on paper, but there are plenty of things I can figure out through determination, experience, and faith. Work ethic matters. Showing up matters. Being willing to fail, learn, and try again matters.
Life is full of tests, and not all of them come with a score. Some are disguised as disappointments, closed doors, setbacks, and unanswered prayers. The real question isn’t whether you pass every test. It’s whether you’ll keep moving forward when you don’t.
The Bible says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). It also reminds us that “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).
Keep going. Keep working. God has a way of blessing the work of faithful hands. Don’t stop. You’ve got this.