“For years, I thought God was disappointed in me every time I messed up. But when I started chewing on His grace, I learned that my failures are not the end—they’re the place where His love meets me most.”
Why Setbacks Feel Like the End (But They Aren’t)
Everyone stumbles. Whether it’s an old habit, a harsh word, or a moment of weakness, failure can leave you feeling ashamed, discouraged, or tempted to give up. The enemy wants you to believe you have to earn your way back to God or that you’re disqualified from His love. But the truth? God’s arms are open wide, ready to welcome you home—every single time.
The CHEW on This™ framework helps you turn setbacks into moments of grace, not shame.
How to CHEW When You Fall Short
1. Confess—Be Honest About Your Setback
- “God, I blew it again. I feel ashamed and discouraged.”
- “I’m tempted to hide or give up.”
- Brief Prayer: “Lord, I bring You my failure. Meet me with Your grace and help me come back to You.”
2. Hear—Let God’s Word Speak Grace Over You
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
- “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
- Brief Prayer: “Holy Spirit, remind me that Your love and mercy are new every time I come to You.”
3. Exchange—Chew on a Grace-Filled Question
- “If I really believed God’s grace is bigger than my failure, how would that change the way I respond after I fall?”
- “If I really believed God welcomes me back every time, how would that change my willingness to run to Him instead of hiding?”
- “If I really believed there is no condemnation in Christ, how would that change my next step?”
- Brief Prayer: “Jesus, help me believe Your grace is for me right now, not just when I get it right.”
4. Walk—Take a Step Toward Grace and Growth
- Pause and pray your chew question when you feel shame or discouragement.
- Reach out to a trusted friend or mentor and share your struggle—let them remind you of God’s grace.
- Thank God for His forgiveness and ask Him for strength to start again.
- Celebrate every small step back toward Him, no matter how many times you fall.
- Brief Prayer: “Father, thank You for never giving up on me. Help me walk forward in Your love and grace.”
Mini Story
“There was a season when I kept falling back into an old habit. Each time, I wanted to hide from God in shame. But as I started chewing on Lamentations 3:22-23—“His mercies are new every morning”—I realized that God wasn’t waiting to scold me, but to welcome me. The more I ran to Him after each fall, the quicker I found hope, strength, and the courage to start again.”
Continue Your Journey: Grace for Every Setback
Today, let your CHEW practice focus on running to God after you fall.
Pause at least three times—when you mess up, when you feel shame, and when you need a fresh start.
Write down or share one way you experienced God’s grace today.
Invite a friend or family member to join you, and encourage each other to keep running to God, no matter what.
Ready for more?
Keep going with the next blog in the series: “Living Loved in a Digital World—Overcoming Distraction and Comparison.”
Discover how God’s love can anchor you in a world of endless scrolling and constant comparison.
To revisit the previous post in our series, see here.
Transparency Note: This series is crafted in collaboration with advanced AI tools and thoughtfully finalized by the 1st Principle Group staff to ensure biblical faithfulness and practical relevance for our readers.
