What to Do When We Fail

I like movies. Maybe not as much as Daniel Channell our media guy, but I really like watching movies. In particular, I really like movies that I can reflect on and find cool life lessons in. That is probably why I love New Life’s “At the Movies” series so much. In the “At the Movies” series we learn about God through the movies that were some of the most popular and talked about throughout the year.

One movie we didn’t cover was Batman Begins, but it is one of my favorites. In this movie it shares the story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman and how he saved Gotham City from Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Shadows. It’s a really good movie, but one part towards the end really stood out to me.

In this clip below, we see Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) discouraged and his butler Alfred (Michale Caine) encouraging him. Click the video below to see the interaction.

Bruce Wayne was discouraged. It seemed like his world was falling apart. But his trusted friend, Alfred, was quick to remind him that we fail, “so that we can learn to pick ourselves back up.” Bruce Wayne/Batman picked himself up, with Alfred’s help, and went on to defeat Ra’s al Ghul.

I love this whole interaction for three very specific reasons:

1. We are going to fail at things. No matter how hard we try or what we do, the reality is we are going to experience failure at one point or another. We shouldn’t be ok with failure, but understand that we will never be perfect either.
2. We need people around us to encourage us. I love how Alfred encouraged Bruce; he said he would never give up on him. We need people in our lives who won’t give up on us and will encourage us. Do you have those in your life AND are you that for someone else? Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
3. We have to keep trying, pushing forward, and taking next steps. Bruce Wayne could have just quit and let Gotham City be destroyed, but he didn’t. He became Batman again and defeated the League of Shadows. Even in our failures, we need to get back up and keep striving towards Christ and His will for our lives.

Given we are going to fail, the important thing to remember is that it’s what we choose to do in the midst of those failures that will determine what happens next.

How will you respond the next time you fail? Will you give up, or pick yourself back up with God’s strength?

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” The next time you fail, seek Christ and see where He leads you.

– Tom