So often it happens that hard work goes unnoticed or efforts get put on hold.  Other times good intentions blow up in our face as a huge misunderstanding.  Sports players can identify very well with the numerous attempts that fail.

If it were not for second chances in life nobody would achieve goals.  It is the same spiritually.  

As we grow in grace and into the likeness of Christ we fail many times.  Countless opportunities come our way to witness or to be an encouragement to others and we fail to recognize these chances.  We are busy or not focused on God for the moment and we miss out. 

However God never gives up on us.  The times we feel crushed beneath failed efforts we can be assured that God will take that crushed effort and rebuild it again.

Jeremiah 18:3-4 New Living Translation

So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.  But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.