Thought-Full Encouragement: Failure is Just the Beginning

Proverbs 24:16 says, "But the righteous falls sevens times and rises again"

There is a commentary on this verse that states:

"Failure is never final.  Most leaders will tell you failure is just another step towards success.  Inventory Thomas Edison, when asked about how he endured so many failures while creating what would become the lightbulb, he said, "I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.  Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

The trick is to not give up or give in.  We all will get knocked down.  We don't have perfect line of sight.  Our opinion isn't always right.  We will believe strongly about the wrong things.  What will you do with your failures?  Flounder or flourish?

This reminds me of a story about a farmer and it goes like this:

"One day a farmer's horse runs away and his friends come by and say, 'Bad luck your horse running away.'  And the farmer responds, 'What do I know about these things.'  A few days later it returns with 20 wild horses with it, and his friends say, 'What luck, now you have 20 more horses.' Later, his son is out taming one of the new horses and it kicks him and breaks his leg.  The farmer's friends say to him, 'Bad luck with that, too bad these horses ever came.'  And the farmer says back, 'What do I know about bad luck and good luck.'  A few days later the local gang of Hooligans comes by looking to recruit any able bodied young men.  They were going to take the farmer's son but they saw the broken leg and moved on.  The farmer's friends then said, 'That's good luck your son's leg was broken.'"

What do you think the farmer's response was?  We don't know why we fall, we fail, we struggle, we stress.  This is beyond our knowledge and foresight.  But we do know there is a good God who is in control and works all things for His good, and that can't be a bad thing for us.  

Why else would the Bible tell so many stories of failure.  Abraham and David, Solomon and Moses, Elisha and Peter.  All pillars in the Bible, yet all failed in one way or another.

Never let falling back in a repented sin stop you, a promise unfulfilled block you, a prayer of strength unanswered mock you into believing you are not enough as you are for God.  That you are not saved by the blood of Christ.  Fail and fail again, but always, always, always get up and try again to repent, to live the life you are called to live through Christ.

Until next time.

Graciously,

E. R. Jennings