Did you hear the one about the college student who was failing the marine biology class? It turns out his grade was below C level.
We have all experienced failure at some point in our lives. Maybe you failed a test. Maybe you failed to reach a dream or goal. Maybe your failure was in business or an investment. Maybe that failure occurred in a relationship. No matter the source of that failure, it can bring disappointment, disillusionment, and lead us to question our motives, actions and even ourselves.
So how do we respond when failure shows up at our doorstep? What steps can I take so that I don’t compound the failure by bringing unnecessary regret, heartache, and suffering?
One of the best lessons I have learned is that failure is seldom fatal or final. I recall some failures as a child or teenager. At that moment I was absolutely convinced my life was over. I was convinced that I would spend the rest of my days with a big “L†for Loser tattooed across my forehead. Everyone would be able to see it and thus would have nothing to do with me.
Fortunately, with time and the help of family and friends, I was able to discover that my failure was not as catastrophic as I had conjured up in my mind. I so appreciate the way John Maxwell, takes the old adage, “sometimes you win and sometimes you lose†and flips it by saying, “sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.â€
Peter is a great example of this. Right before his crucifixion, Jesus told Peter he would deny him three times. Peter, like most of us, had a higher opinion of himself than reality warranted, and confidently informed Jesus that this would never happen. Unfortunately, within just a few hours Peter had done exactly what he said he would never do. He failed.
Peter’s failure was not the end of the story. On that resurrection morning, when several women had gone to Jesus’ tomb, they discovered Jesus wasn’t there. Instead, an angel greeted them with these words. “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.†(Mark 16:6-7 NLT)
These women were given an assignment to bring the message that Jesus was no longer dead. In addition, they were instructed to specifically tell Peter this news. Why? This was to let Peter know that his failure was not final. His failure did not forever banish him to the ash heap of history. As a result, Peter went on to become mightily used of God in the early church.
Friend, no matter how many times you have failed, remember failure is seldom fatal or final. Learn and grow from your failures so you too, like Peter, can be mightily used of God.
