Overcoming Failure (2 of 2)

Continued from last week... 

Get back up.

Proverbs 24:16 says that a just man falls seven times but rises again. Your strength is not measured by what knocks you down. Your strength is seen when you get back up again after you have fallen. Some of the greatest men in history and in the Bible have fallen and failed, but they decided to not stay down, but rather to get back up. Failure is not final, so don’t let it keep you down. Psalms 37:24 says that, though a good man falls, he shall not be cast down because the Lord upholds him with His hand. Jump back up, for God is not finished with you yet! Don’t stay down, there’s much to live for and many reasons to continue and not quit. There’s a God who still loves you, people who still need you, and rewards to still work towards. Think about all those that have invested in you, think of your responsibilities, think of those watching you, and the great God in Heaven who has plans for you. It is not easy to get back up, but it’s the right thing to do, so don’t quit! Let me share with you a poem that was written in the 1800’s by John Greenleaf Whittier, yet is still very applicable today. 

“YOU MUST NOT QUIT”

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, 

When funds are low and the debts are high, 

And you want to smile but you have to sigh.

When troubles are pressing you down a bit, 

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out, 

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you can never tell how close you are, 

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stay in the fight when you're hardest hit, 

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.            

Change your attitude.

In the introduction of this book, I shared how my dad would correct me every time I said the phrase “I can’t.” It was more than simply changing the vocabulary I used. Although I do think that was part of it, my dad was teaching me a life lesson. Every time I said, “I can’t” about anything, my dad wanted me to know that I really could if I would just put my heart and mind to it. Whether it was playing a sport, working around the house, or even trying to get better grades, my dad taught me that I really could do it if I would stop saying, “I can’t.” Words reveal beliefs, and beliefs control actions. If you want to press forward and continue after failure, then quit saying, “I can’t,” and start believing you can. Change your attitude and you will change your failures into triumphs. 

Work harder.

I use to envy the person who was smart and didn’t have to study, or the person who was naturally talented at a sport or job, but I really don’t any more. Since I didn’t have the height to be a great defender in basketball, the weight to knock everyone down in football, or the brains to make it on the honor roll, it meant I had to work twice as hard. Putting forth twice the effort never hurt me; in fact, it helped me learn to get back up when I fell down. Everyone will fail at something in life, and most likely it will not be easy to bounce back and recover, but if you’re willing to work twice as hard, you can and will regain the lost ground. Sadly, the guy with money, brains, and talent will most likely not be willing to work hard and bounce back once he faces failure. If you’re willing to be a scrapper and work hard, no failure will be able to hold you down. 

Let’s close out this chapter thinking about the old hymn entitled “Let Him Have His Way with Thee.” Life has a way of throwing wrenches in our plans and on our path. All have or will meet failure, but cheer up because God still has beautiful plans for you. God’s part is already taken care of; your part is to be yielded, to be surrendered, and to let Him have His way in your life. 

Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.

His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Excerpt taken from book Overcomers, A Study on Gaining Victory Over the Obstacles in Life by Jeffrey Bush