Failure. For many of us, that word might mean: relationships gone sour, businesses gone belly-up, bad experiences in school, or maybe our relationship with God. It really makes no difference what happened to you. Failure hurts. But, how a person handles failure can mean the difference between living a life of victory, or living a life filled with bitterness, hostility and anger.
How do you work through failure? Do you believe that failure isn't final; and failure has a purpose? When you go through failures what are your first questions? “Why are people doing this to me?” “Why is God allowing this to happen to me?” Or you may think: “I've been keeping my prayer life up to date, and I've been walking with the Lord and obedient to His Word. So, why should this happen to me now?”
You see, failure is common to everybody. Yes, it is! At various stages of our lives we all experience different kinds of failure. Some failures are out of our control. When I try something that doesn't work out I choose to look at the experience, not as a failure, but something that simply didn't work out. Then, I’ll try something else.
You might ask yourself, “What can I learn through this experience?” “What is God teaching me through this failure?” In the Bible, the Apostle Paul experienced failure after failure, but he came through every failure with victory. In fact, his experiences can help us all learn how to handle failure.
Paul grew up in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, a city made up primarily of non Jews. He was born a Roman citizen, the son of a Pharisee, educated under a Doctor of Law, Gamaliel; and was a student of Greek and Jewish literature.
Paul experienced one failure after another (2 Corinthians 11:24-30). He gives a litany of failures…hardships, persecutions and pain. He could said, I've been down for the count, but I’m getting up.” “I've been knocked down but I’m not out.”
After all that Paul went through you wonder why he didn't just give up on life and hide away. When experiencing failure you may consider staying inside, pulling the covers over your head, and stay safe and out of harms way.
A common denominator for people that learn how to deal with failure and hardships in life is: they don’t give up! They refuse to focus on the failures and weaknesses and focus upon their strengths. Paul could testify: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Even Jesus experienced failure (Mark 6:1-6). He experienced failure from a human point of view. From the world’s view Jesus was a failure. He didn't set up an earthly Kingdom and bring peace on earth. He died on a cruel cross rejected by the religious, and non-religious leaders of his day (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
For 33 years Jesus was preparing for the cross – in the world’s view, the biggest failure of his life. Jesus was prepared from the beginning of his life on earth. Luke 2:52 says that Jesus grew in wisdom statute and in favor with God and man. Jesus developed a balanced life: grew in wisdom – mentally, in stature – physically, favor with God – spiritually, and favor with men, socially.
He walked with God; made prayer his habit; knew the Word of God – time and time again He quoted the Old Testament; and was looking toward an eternity of victory over sin and Satan – Jesus knew all his suffering and turmoil would be worth it all.
Paul, too, was prepared. His preparation started on a dusty, lonely, road on the way to Damascus. Jesus spoke to him and called him to a new mission in life. Saul was transformed into Paul. He also spent three years in the Arabian dessert (Galatians 1:17-18) – three years of preparing his mind, body and soul for the ministry God was calling him to.
When you're prepared, change and failure will not ruin your life! You will ask the right questions and take the right actions. Paul, like all of us, faced failure, but he was prepared and responded with renewed faith in the Lord. You can also look at it this way. Failures are a blessing when they push you toward higher goals (Philippians 3:13-14).
Paul could say: “I'm forgetting past hurts, past rejections, humiliations, suffering for righteousness, and I’m forgetting that for years my life was on the wrong road.” He lived in the light of eternity. When you and I can begin to see the big picture, and life in the light of eternity; then we'll have an idea how to handle failures and change.
His greatest victory was his biggest failure, being sent to prison was his great humiliation – but prison was the beginning of God’s greatest work in his life. God chose the one experience in which he could not glory for His glory. Paul could say, “In my weaknesses God is glorified. When I am weak then I am strong.”
We all need to see failures from God’s perspective. If failure and change causes us to look up and make new commitments and surrender to the Lord – then we can praise His Holy name. In Christ you have His promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Even in the valley of the shadow of death you have the promise: “I will be with you.”
You might find this hard to believe, but God really is interested in how we respond to failure! What you call failure God may call a window of opportunity for learning. In times of failure and change you may be given a new opportunity. Maybe a new door will open for you; you'll be given a chance to move out of your comfort zone; or an opportunity to respond in love and good will, instead of in anger, revenge, or gossip!
In closing, how you handle failure is critical to your life today and in the future. A common truth is that everyone experiences some kind of failure and change. To God, the important truth is how you respond to failure and change. Failure is a blessing, if it pushes you to humble yourself before the Lord, and begin to live in the light of eternity.
Scripture: Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 22:16; Luke 13:3; Proverbs 31:6-7; Revelation 14:12; Proverbs 20:30
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please guide me to be appreciative for what I have, and what is truly important. Amen
Have a blessed weekend!
Lori
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