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Topic: Failure (03/01/04)
TITLE: Overcoming Failure By Susan Coltrane-Dunn 03/04/04 |
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I can not count how many times I have heard people say they are failures. They
have even went as far as considering suicide. Then there are some who build a wall
around themselves so that no one can get in. We all face failure at one point in our life,
but we can't let it conquer us. Failure can bring about depression and lower self-esteem.
When someone fails, most likely others will know about it. Some make failure out to
be more than it really is and we tend to let it get the better of us. But we need to
remember that pride is a big part of failure and we can't let pride get in the way.
For me, I learn from my failures and concentrate on what I did wrong and try to
make it right the next time. I believe God uses failure to change us so that
we can grow from it and not repeat it. Think about all the failures in the Bible. There
were Adam, Aaron, Abraham, David, Jacob, Moses and others. We do not see failure
the way God sees it. God sees failure as a chance to bring about change and work in
our lives. We need to reconize our weakness and rely on our strength. Don't let ourselves
be put in situations that will set us up for failure.
God's love does not depend on our success. His love encourages us not to give up, but
to seek the task He has given us. Failure is not the end. To fail does not make you a
failure and victory can come out of failure. We need to have confidence that we can
bounce back after failure. Satan would love for us to feel defeated, because when we
feel like that we are not likely to try again.
Never, for a moment would I repeat the steps that caused failure in my life. But without
those failures I don't think I would be where I am today in my relationship with God.
As I failed, God showed me that He was still near me and still in control. I have learned
that failure is one of God's most effective tools in carrying out His purpose in our life.
To me, the only thing worse than failing is to fail to learn from that failure and repeat it.
Learn from your failures. Every bad experience has something to teach us if we would just
look for it and learn from it. You may not be able to go back and undo the damage but the next time you can be wiser and do right. Put the failure behind you and don't let that failure stop you from trying again. Through faith we can turn our failures into opportunities to grow.
Don't let failing or failure discourage. Be bold and strong, banish fear and doubt! Remember,
the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. The only failure that is final is the failure
to come to Christ and to acknowledge Him and begin following him as Lord of your life.