How Should A Christian Respond To Failure?

 

In her article, 10 Famous Failures to Success Stories That Will Inspire You To Carry On, Elizabeth Andall shares the story of Abraham Lincoln. She narrates that Lincoln failed in business in 1831, suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836, and was defeated in his run for the presidency in 1856.

Instead of allowing despair to set in and giving up, he refused to stop trying his best. Consequently, he was elected as the 16th President of the United States of America in 1861.

Failure in life is a natural phenomenon that happens to everyone. Even as a Christian you can experience failure in studies, work, relationships, business, in the family as well as in the Christian vocation. Failure in itself is not a problem but allowing it to cripple and paralyze one’s motivation for making progress is the problem.

The Bible verse quoted reveals that although the righteous or the believer in Christ fails or falls many times, he still has the strength to rise up again. This is because of the attitude he possesses.

His attitude is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”; “His grace is sufficient for me”; “I forget those things which are behind me and reach forth to those things which are before”; “I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God “; “I am looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of my faith”.

If you have failed in any way may be socially, morally, in your marital life, in Ministry, or in any endeavor, do not give up. Rather look for the cause of your failure, repent from any sins or mistakes committed, and trust God for forgiveness and assurance of strength and courage to move on. Seek to be guided by

God’s Word and His Spirit through prayer, and take steps of faith and march forward to victory.

Thought for the Day: Failure doesn’t mean Fatality, rather it means Forwardness.

Read: Proverbs 24:16 – 20

By Joseph Omono Asamoah