November 4, 2026
Failure is universal; fruitful failure is only for those willing to reflect on and learn from their mistakes! Since everyone “FAILS,” we’re learning principles from the life of David to help us make our failures fruitful. First, Find a new definition of failure. Then, Accept responsibility for your failure. In this issue we’ll examine what it means to Investigate your failures. Consider David’s thoughts:
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:4, 10-12, 16-17, NIV).
David took a deep look at what happened. He must have asked himself a lot of questions as he pondered his failure and reflected on what went wrong. We can learn from David what is required for us to investigate our failures and three key questions to ask ourselves.
Investigating your failure requires reflection.
David must have reflected deeply on the question, “What happened?” We can sense the pain in David’s voice as he cries out to God. He reflects on the condition of his heart and asks God, “Create in me a pure heart...” He must have reflected on the harsh reality that although he was a “man after God’s own heart,” in this situation he failed to live that out. He may have pondered whether he should have gone to the battlefield or turned his eyes away at the first glance at a beautiful woman. In any case, he reflected deeply on what had gone wrong.
Some leaders acknowledge failure but quickly try to move past it without reflecting deeply on what happened and how they can avoid repeating their failure. But serving leaders seek to answer the question, “What happened?” until they are confident that they understand what went wrong. They are willing to examine their motives and actions as they reflect.
Investigating your failure requires response.
David knew that he needed to respond in some way after his failure. He considered bringing a sacrifice which would have been an expected response. But as he reflected on his failure, he also must have asked, “What did I learn?” His reflections indicate that he learned about his own sinfulness and deceitful heart. He recognized that his sin was ultimately against God. He learned his utter dependence on the Spirit of God and asked God, “Do not take ...your Holy Spirit from me.” He learned that no sacrifice could substitute for genuine repentance. He learned that what God desired was “a broken and contrite heart.” His response in this psalm reflected what he learned as he investigated his failure.
Some leaders acknowledge their mistake and quickly offer an apology. But serving leaders take time to reflect on what they learned so their response leads to genuine growth.
Investigating your failure requires redirection.
Finally, David’s repentance encourages us to ask ourselves, “What will I change?” David understood that investigating his failure required redirection. He could not continue to move forward in the same way that he had done before his failure. His sacrifice would be “a broken and contrite heart.” His repentance was deep and required a change of direction.
Some leaders acknowledge their failure but don’t make a commitment to change. But serving leaders realize that failure is an opportunity for growth and change—and they communicate their new direction to others.
For further reflection and discussion:
- What is a significant mistake I made recently that I want to investigate? (Name it before you complete the following questions.)
- What happened? What was behind my failure? What caused me to take the action I did? What were my motives? Was I seeking to please others or to impress anyone? Was my failure an issue of my character, knowledge or leadership skill?
- What did I learn? What did I learn from this mistake about myself? About my leadership? About others? How does what I learned shape how I should respond?
- What will I change? What specific action will I commit to that will help me avoid repeating this failure? What will I do differently in a similar situation? Who needs to know about my commitment to change and when will I tell them?
- Read again the account of David’s failure in 2 Samuel 11-12, and his psalm of repentance, Psalm 51. What additional insights about failure do you gain from this story?
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
In the next issue, we’ll look at how to leave your failures.