Have you ever tried to do something that you believe God was calling you to do and met with failure? Well I have found myself in similar situations on many occasions partly due my impulsive nature. In the beginning I felt like a big failure and got depressed for making the same mistakes. But I am learning from my mistakes.
I have come to believe that failure is not always a bad thing, because failure often precedes success. The point is failure can actually teach us success if we are willing to humble ourselves and learn from our mistakes.
It has been said that if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Easier said than done! I would like to modify this sentence somewhat by saying instead that if at first you don't succeed, take a step back and relax. We are only human with all the hang-ups associated with being human.
We tend to beat ourselves up (at least I do) when we fail because things don’t always end the way we planned or envisioned. Instead of getting depressed or even disappointed in ourselves and especially others we need to take a step back in order to see how things could have been done differently. Often it is through the process of learning what not to do that we better learn what to do in the future.
In Matthew 14:22-33 we find the story of a failure, one of the most spectacular failures of all time. It is the story of Peter, who walked on the water with Jesus. It is also the story of his sinking after he walked on the water with Jesus.
But before we judge Peter to harshly for his impulsiveness and lack of faith we need look for the positive in the story. Just think about it: While everybody else was sitting in the boat discussing whether or not Jesus was a ghost the Bible tells us that Peter actually “God down out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus” (verse 29).
That was an incredible moment that took both courage and conviction and whatever else followed after that experience cannot undo it. Truth is, we can probably all find fault with Peter for a number of reasons, but at the same time we need to remember no one else in the boat even attempted to do what Peter did.
I have found that it often easier to sit on the side-lines and criticize people who are leading, who are trying to make a difference in the world and in the lives of people. But we need to ask ourselves, “What risks have I taken lately to advance the Kingdom of God? What have I done to help disciple or lead a person closer to Jesus?” I believe God would rather have us try and fail than never do anything at all.
God bless
Berny