"I May Even Fall Seven Times!"

Falling, Rising, and Living Out Who We Are in Christ

As a teacher, I’ve always loved definitions. Words matter. Sometimes we read Scripture over and over again, but we remember what someone said about a verse more than what the words themselves actually mean. When we slow down and understand those words, it can completely change how we see ourselves—and how we live.

Today I want to share from Proverbs 24:16:

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.”

This verse is rich, practical, and deeply encouraging—especially when we understand what righteous, seven, wicked, and calamity really mean.

You Are the Righteousness of God in Christ

Let’s start here: you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

That means righteousness is not something you earn through perfect behavior. It is something you are because of what Jesus accomplished through His crucifixion, burial, resurrection—and His seating at the right hand of the Father. Scripture tells us plainly that we were seated with Him. That’s positional truth.

Whether you know it or not, you’re already there.

The question isn’t if you’re righteous, it’s how do you live that out?

Our behavior doesn’t create righteousness, but it does reveal whether we are allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest what is already true inside of us. God created you to be who you are in Christ, but that identity must be lived out in the real world, among real people, in the places God has directed your path.

Falling Doesn’t Change God’s Plan

The verse says a righteous person may fall—and not just once, but “seven times.” That does not mean God expects repeated failure. The number seven symbolizes spiritual completeness and maturity.

Spiritual maturity is not the result of working harder to be good. It’s the byproduct of the Holy Spirit working in you. If you’re breathing, you’re maturing.

God’s plan for your life does not change because of your behavior. That is one of the greatest truths believers—and even unbelievers—need to understand. When you fall, God is still for you. When you miss the mark, God is still for you. We overcome by grace, not by repeatedly saying, “I’ll never do that again,” only to do it twenty minutes later.

Maturity happens when we surrender to the Spirit of God and allow Him to grow us in areas where we struggle.

Seven: Complete, Whole, and Finished

God rested on the seventh day because His work was complete. Nothing could be added to it or taken away without damaging it.

That completeness lives in you.

When we live according to earthly thinking, we suffer consequences—but God keeps reminding us: My plan is better. Falling does not remove your salvation unless you choose to live in guilt and condemnation, and that is no place for anyone to stay.

God never designed salvation to be fragile. It’s a lifetime experience, not a finish line you arrive at.

Wickedness, Calamity, and Consequences

The word wicked simply means wrong—living contrary to what the Spirit of God is saying. Wickedness isn’t always dramatic or evil-looking. Often, it’s just choosing our own way instead of God’s.

Calamity, according to Hebrew definitions, involves trouble or mischief directed toward others. This is the person who looks for trouble—or tries to pull others away from doing what God is calling them to do.

When we deny the righteousness of Christ in us and allow our minds to take over instead of the Spirit, we miss God’s plan. But even then, it’s not over. The righteous fall and rise again—because God Himself lifts them up.

Ordered Steps, Not Accidental Lives

Another scripture that has guided my life is this:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord… though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” (Psalm 37:23–24)

Don’t minimize your steps. God makes moves through ideas, impressions, and obedience—not always through dramatic spiritual moments.

When Tom and I moved our family from California to Oklahoma, we had no angelic visitation. We had an idea—and peace. That move led us through poverty, uncertainty, and dependence on God in ways we’d never known. But every place we stopped, every person we met, was exactly who we needed.

God ordered our steps, and He delighted in us.

God Delights in You

This may be one of the most important truths to receive: God enjoys you.

He delights in who you are, not just what you do right. He takes pleasure in obedience, yes—but He also takes pleasure in you. Just like we delight in our children and grandchildren, God delights in His creation.

He holds our hand—not to hurt us, but to support us. His strength, not ours, sustains us. And when we stay attuned to Him, we don’t miss the opportunities He places in front of us.

Behavior Matters—Because It Shapes Us

Our behavior doesn’t save us, but it matters deeply. When our actions don’t align with what we profess, we hurt ourselves first. That’s where guilt and condemnation creep in.

Jesus confronted hypocrisy not because people lacked knowledge, but because their behavior didn’t reflect God’s heart. Righteousness lived out is practical. It shows up at home, with neighbors, in moments of frustration, and in how we respond when life presses us.

Spiritual maturity is learning to hear God—and then doing what He says.

God’s Grace Carries Us Forward

I’ve fallen. I’ve been frustrated. I’ve been fussy. I’ve missed the mark. But God has never let go of me.

I can honestly say this: though I have fallen, I was never finished.

And neither are you.

You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works—works He prepared beforehand. God already planned your purpose. Your failures don’t cancel it. Your behavior doesn’t surprise Him.

So don’t give up. Falling doesn’t have to be permanent. Get up. Listen to the Spirit. Do what He says. And trust that the same God who ordered your steps is still holding your hand.

You are blessed. You are highly favored. And God delights in you.

Amen.