Does God use our failures for our good?
Yes. Scripture's own story is full of people whose worst hours God worked into something good: Joseph's betrayal, Peter's denial, Paul's thorn. The promise of Romans 8 is that God works all things, even our failures, for good for those who love Him, and the good He is working is our growth into the likeness of Christ.
This question arose from studying What happens when I sin after I've come to Christ? and Why does God allow suffering and evil?.
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What the Scripture says
God has done this before
Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, lied about it, and left him for dead; years later Joseph looked them in the eye and said, 'You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.' It is one of the most hopeful sentences in the Bible, and it is not a theory: it is what had actually happened in a real family, over decades.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him. Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.
But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it. The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper.
The promise is wide, and the good is specific
Paul writes that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose: not that every event is good in itself, but that God works them all into His good. And the good is named: that we might be conformed to the image of His Son. The goal is not merely our happiness; it is our Christlikeness, and that is worth suffering for.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Our failures do not have the last word
Peter swore he would never deny Jesus, and then did it three times, in the very courtyard Jesus had warned him about. But Jesus had prayed for him: 'that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.' The failure was real, and so was the grace. There is no condemnation for those in Christ, and confession brings cleansing.
The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Even our humbling is made to serve us
Paul was given 'a thorn in the flesh' to keep him humble, and he begged three times for it to be removed. God's answer was not an explanation; it was grace: 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Paul then wrote that believers are pressed on every side, yet not crushed. The weakness we wish away is often the very place God's strength is seen.
By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
He weaves our falls into growth and usefulness
After the suffering, 1 Peter promises that the God of all grace himself perfects, establishes, strengthens, and settles us. The psalmist learned from his affliction, and Paul could say his imprisonment advanced the gospel. The failures are not the whole story, and they are not wasted: God works them into the character of Christ in us and into usefulness for His kingdom.
But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
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Verses to meditate on
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
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