By Mark Maher
“You may encounter many defeats, BUT you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelo
Why do we fear failure? There is no one that doesn’t fail. Perfection is an obstacle to growth. Learn to love the process. It’s OK to fail. Just keep trying. Losing is a part of life. “I never lose, either I win or I learn.” Nelson Mandela
Just keep failing forward. Let no one take you off your assignment. God wants a surrendered heart, your yes, your availability, not your perfection. Perfection may be a goal, but if you try too hard to be perfect, you may not take those risks. It’s those positive risks that test our faith. Christ wants to see our faith. The phrase “ye of little faith” appears in Matthew 8:26, 14:31, and 16:8, encouraging the disciples to trust. God equips you as you step out in faith.
You don’t have to have your act altogether, in fact, the equipping happens as you take each step. God’s waiting on you. If you want to bring people to Christ, simply put a yes on your heart, and God will bring them to you. You just have to be ready.
He is the God of all grace, the redeemer, the restorer, and of abundant chances despite any perceived failure. God can never love you more than He does right now. His love is unconditional, unmerited, undeserved, extending to everyone and in all circumstances. Your failure does not exclude you.
How do you see failure? Do you see it with a spirit of humility or pride? Humility will put you in a place of reflection and pride will put you in a place of denial. We should want to process it and learn from it. It’s the place of the greatest empathy and growth. It’s tough to heal what we hide. Step out into the arena. Take a chance. Pride will hold you back because you’re too worried about what everybody thinks, but it’s not about what everybody else thinks, its what God thinks. What’s God telling you to do? Probably telling you to have a little faith and take a chance.
As long as you don’t quit, you’ve never failed. No, you’ve gained experience. You’re better now. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
We gain experience when we get knocked down and have to find a way to get back up. It’s a transition, and transitions require us to do a work on both fronts. We have to rectify our past, and get real bold and courageous towards our future to try something new. “What If” you can pull it off when no one else thought you could? “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6)
Transitions may be even a little messy at first, but God‘s working on something. He’s always working on your heart, the inner you, your fight, “your endurance, and your character.” (Romans 5:3-4) Transitions are always a little dicey and challenging, but lock in on your long term goals. It’s all part of the process. “Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” (Psalms 37:24)
What are you doing that pushes you out of your comfort zone? Are you doing one thing a month that scares you or one thing a year? What risks are you taking? “Do something every day that scares you.” (Eleanor Roosevelt) “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.” (Psalm 27:3)
“And without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) What are we afraid of? Lead with love and faith and walk forward, trusting God has a vision for your life. You trust Him, right? Ok then let go and release your expectations and latch onto God’s will and purpose for your life. “You can make many plans, but the LORD ‘s purpose will prevail.” (Proverbs 19:21)
How quickly do you quit? What is your threshold of resistance to get you to stop? “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16) No devil shall take you off your assignment. I’ll take every risk for God. I’ll have a yes on my heart. What should we go fail at today?
