Have this mind among yourselves. Christ did not grasp at equality with God, but humbled himself, even to death on the cross. Therefore God has lifted him up, and given him the name that is above all names… (Philippians 2:5-11).

Our lives usually aren’t just one success after another. Sometimes the way we grow quickest and best is by not getting something right. That can be quite humiliating, but it is yet another way in which our old self-centered egos have to die their little deaths, so that God’s new and richer life can keep emerging.

That is the pattern of Christ. He let go being safe and secure in heaven, in order to become one with us – human and vulnerable. He didn’t short circuit the whole process of being our servant. He willingly went even into the shameful death of execution on the cross. Only then was he lifted up in the glorious events of Easter. He does the journey for us, and with us, so that we too are lifted up into God’s love.

So do not despair when things don’t go the way you want or expect. Don’t beat yourself up when something goes wrong, or you make a mistake. There may be important lessons that you need to learn. It may be that God is using difficult experiences to help you discover deeper compassion and understanding for others, or is drawing you into a deeper faith and trust.