FACING FAILURE

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”—Micah 7:8

Most successful business people that I have met have had one thing in common.  They have had to face failure.  When I asked them if they had ever experienced failure, each one without fail told me, “NO!”  They all said that they did not fail—they just learned how to do something a better way.  In other words, they never deemed failure as a final.  I think that this is a key to our understanding of getting up and trying again.

Elijah felt like he had abandoned the job that God gave him to do as a prophet to Israel.   He had been very “jealous” for the Lord God.  He had killed all the prophets of Baal and now Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife was out to kill him.  He became frightened and ran away into the wilderness and wanted to die.  When Jezebel threatened Elijah he ran, revealing his false faith that she could affect his life more than the Lord God (1 Kings 19).  However God had a different plan for his life, instead of rejecting Elijah, God sent an angel to feed and strengthen him.  Not only was Elijah’s physical strength revived, but so, was his faith.  he learned that he could trust god’s hold on him more than his hold on god. 

God’s faithfulness does not depend on ours.  His performance is not predicated on ours.  His love is not contingent on our own.  In fact, the disciples had to learn this lesson.  Jesus told them that all of them would fail.  “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:31-32).  When Jesus said, “All of you will stumble,” He was telling them they would fall away, turn away run away.  All they had promised Him would mean nothing.  What Jesus’ promise, however, stays firm.  ‘But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee” (v. 32).  He literally said, your fall will be great, but my grace will be greater.  Stumble, I will catch you.  Scatter, I will gather you. Turn from me, I will turn toward you.  You will find me waiting for you. 

Peter still did not understand what Jesus meant.  “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble” (v. 33).  Peter’s trust was in his own strength.  Yet Peter’s strength was not strong enough.  Jesus knew it and said, “Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” Luke 23:31-32).

Satan would attack and test Peter.  But Satan would never win Peter.  Why?  Because of how strong Peter was?  No, because Jesus was.  “I have prayed for you.”  Jesus’ prayers limit Satan. 

Jesus prays for you as well: “Holy Father, keep them and care for them—all those you have given me—so that they will be united just as we are.  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony” (John 17:11, 20 NLT). 

You can face tomorrow.  You can begin again.  The heavenly Father is not asking you to wait until you become great.  He is GREAT.  He is waiting for you to rise again. 

Mother Teresa aid, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

Prayer—Heavenly Father today I release my inabilities to you.  Lord I have stumbled and I ask You to forgive me and gather me to Yourself.  Today I am resolved to trust Your hold on me more than I trust my hold on You.  I give myself anew to You today asking You to take my life and use it for Your glory, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.