Failing Successfully

Do you know what you have in common with Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, the apostle Peter and King Solomon?

Yesterday we introduced the topic of failure, an unwelcome part of everyone's life. We ended by looking up to Jesus and recognizing that failure is a time for faith. It's a time to look to God for comfort, to recognize in faith that God is in control, and to look to Him for direction, for a way out of the wilderness of despair that often comes with a perceived failure.

Let's try to put failure into perspective by seeing it at a distance from any particular incident. One of the first things we may notice is that failure is an experience, not a trait. (Incidentally, I'm told that "experience" is what you get when you don't get what you want...!)

Second, people may differ about whether or not a particular experience is a failure. For example, our world system may say, "Don't throw away your life in some obscure jungle, swatting mosquitoes with a bunch of stone-age natives. You have an interesting, lucrative career here- don't quit it!" The counsel of God's Word says otherwise, telling us God loves all people - even if they live in a jungle, and reminding us that we cannot serve God and money at the same time.

Even the counsel of Christian friends, relatives and significant others may be at odds, since their perception of people and understanding of God's Word are not identical. It's important for us to listen prayerfully and discerningly!

The importance of wise listening and discernment stands out as you hear these almost incredibly disheartening comments about people from the past whose names you know. At a conference, I heard the following excerpts from history:

• Beethoven's music teacher said, "As a composer, he is hopeless."
• A music teacher told Caruso, "You can't sing. You have no voice at all."
• A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he decided that Walt had no good ideas.
• Einstein could not speak until he was four years old, and did not read until he was seven.
• In acting school, Lucille Ball was told by her teacher that she would never amount to anything as an actress.
• As a youngster, Thomas Edison's teachers said he was stupid.

Looking to Scripture, we see more examples of people stung by apparent failure:

• Moses was vastly underrated, dismissed by some of his future followers as a muddling, meddling murderer.
• Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery for cash, just to get rid of him.
• David was the last son his father, Jesse, expected to be anointed as the future king of Israel.

From these examples, we need to realize that sometimes even those close to us underestimate our capacity. Are there people in your life right now who have "written you off"? Are you letting their perceptions limit your perspective?

What you have in common with each of these outstanding people is the experience of failure. When you think about it, you're in great company!

Whether the failure you have in mind as you hear this is a problem of perception or "the real thing," the fact remains that this failure can become a bridge that helps you move toward success in your relationship with God and your influence on those around you. It may lead you to reconsider your motives. Or your attitudes. That's good! It may lead you to reexamine your abilities. Or, could it be that letting go of a lesser goal can become one step toward achieving a higher goal?

If you agree with this perspective let's develop a plan:

• Since God is in control, remember that your response is more important than your situation. Philippians 1 reminds us that the apostle Paul was put in prison. What was his response to that discouraging situation? He witnessed to everyone within earshot, and the gospel for which he was imprisoned moved forward. Again, prior to sacrificing his life, Paul's word to the Philippian church, in chapter 4, verse 4, was-of all things, "Rejoice."

"Rejoice" is a meaningful word: It means "Return to the source of your joy." Wow— that "return to the source of your joy" can heal; it can bring rest to your soul! What a dwelling place for our minds. That response brings great honor to God. That's lifestyle worship in action. Your response is more important than your situation.

• Since God is in control, your assignment is to abide. Obey the exhortation of James in James 1; follow the example of Job in Job 1. Will you let your experience make you bitter or better? When you see those words in print, the difference is one letter. You can focus on the "I" of 'bitter' or on the "E" of 'better.' Let the "E" remind you of Emmanuel—God is with you.

We abide in three ways:

We abide by talking and listening to God. He cares even about the details of your life. Bobby Jackson, a Christian friend who has coached in the NFL for many years, gave me an interesting quote he discovered. It certainly applies to the worship of abiding as we recover from a failure: "When you are sick at heart, talk it over with the great Physician. No appointment necessary!"

We abide by reading His Word. My lifeline was the Book of Psalms. David came to my rescue time after time. Often he began his psalms with outbursts expressing the dismay, alarm or discouragement I felt. By the time he was finished, though, he was looking to God and acknowledging Him as the Person on the other end of his lifeline. As Psalm 121 pictures so well, God used these psalms to lift my eyes from my engulfing circumstances to His almighty sovereignty.

We abide by being with His children. Fellowship at such times is very important. Godly friends are gifts from God. When Jan and I experienced a season like this, we continued meeting and associating with church friends at least once each week. Their friendship meant so much to us!

1-Your response is more important than your situation and 2-your assignment is to abide.

• Put feet to your faith: Walk the talk. For example, if you need employment, go look for it, rather than wallowing in your misery at home. The Bible is not kind to sluggards. In contrast, Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord...." Put your heart into looking for work, improving your skills, developing your relationships, and fulfilling your family responsibilities. Do it as an act of worship. Put feet to your faith.

In closing, "failure" is a bridge. It can bring you to faithful abiding and it can bring you to more effective serving. Let me leave you with this question: What do you think God may want to accomplish through your past failure?

© 2007 John Garmo. If you would be interested in using this article, please contact us at Info@MissionToChildren.org.