Failure can be painful. It upsets, it calls into question, it sometimes leaves a bitter taste. Whether it's a failed project, a broken relationship, a personal downfall or a feeling of having disappointed, failure can deeply affect our self-confidence. And yet the Bible does not speak to us of a life without failure. It tells us of a God who lifts us up, who restores us, who gives us hope. In its pages, we find words capable of helping us to right ourselves, to catch our breath, and to begin again.

Here are five Bible verses to ponder when we are going through a failure and looking for the strength to get back up.

God lifts up the one who falls - Psalm 145:14

"The Lord sustains all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down."

This verse is a precious promise. To fall does not mean to be forsaken. God does not look away from our falls. On the contrary, he approaches them. He reaches out, he lifts us up, he puts us back on our feet. Even when we feel bowed down by shame or discouragement, he is there, ready to carry us.

The righteous fall... and rise again - Proverbs 24:16

"For the righteous fall seven times, and rise again; but the wicked are cast down into misfortune."

This verse breaks the image of a perfect believer. Being righteous does not mean never falling down, but knowing how to get up again and again. Faith is not the absence of weakness, it is the courage to start again. And God, in his faithfulness, is always ready to walk with us, even after our greatest falls.

There is no longer any condemnation - Romans 8:1

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

After a failure, we can feel guilty, unworthy, unable to move forward. This verse breaks these inner chains. In Christ, there is no more condemnation. God does not see our mistakes as ends, but as points of departure. He welcomes us, he restores us, he loves us in spite of everything.

His strength in our weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

This verse, spoken by the Lord to Paul, is a treasure. God is not looking for strong people, but for open hearts. He acts at the very heart of our weakness. Failure then becomes a place of transformation, a place where grace can do its work. We are not the ones who have to succeed at everything: it is he who works through us.

A future in spite of everything - Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and hope."

This verse is a powerful reminder: even after failure, God has a future for us. He doesn't lock us into our mistakes. He prepares a renewal. Nothing is lost to him. Even what seems like a dead end can become a path. This verse invites us to hope again, to believe that life does not end with a fall.

Conclusion

Failure is not the end. It is part of our humanity, but it can become a springboard, a place of growth, a call to grace. These Bible verses do not minimise the pain, but they do remind us that God does not define us by our failures. He lifts us up, he strengthens us, he continues to believe in us, even when we no longer do. With him, every fall can become the start of a new beginning.