The Gift of Failure

A compilation Oct 09, 2014

Learning from our experiences

Sometimes God uses life’s disappointments to draw us closer to Himself or teach us patience and trust. He also may use them to redirect us toward His will. Don’t let failure or disappointment cut you off from God or make you think the future is hopeless. When God closes one door, He often opens another—if we seek it.

When life turns against you, let the psalmist’s prayer become yours: “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths.”—Billy Graham

Failing is a blessing

Whatever path failure guides you toward, it is always meant to give you a big serving of humble pie that builds your character, gives you perspective, grows your faith, and makes you appreciate your success later on. If you didn’t fail, you wouldn’t become the kind of person who ultimately succeeds.

See failure as a test, a teacher, a detour to a better outcome and an event that builds a better you.

When you see failure as a blessing instead of a curse, you will turn the gift of failure into a stepping stone that leads to the gift of success.—Jon Gordon

Moving beyond failure

If we’re not living in a prayerful place, we’re not prepared for coping with unexpected turmoil and tragedies. Most of us can click in at some point with Peter’s failures. We come out of an overinflated sense of our own ability to live for Christ, and then discover we can’t. But Jesus doesn’t leave Peter in that desolate place. He teaches and reteaches a principle that we must never move away from. Jesus can only do through us what we allow Him to do to us. “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Recovery for Peter did not mean perfection. It means acknowledging where he is in his life, and being realistic in his assessment of who he is. His reinstatement does not come because of his strength, but because of his brokenness. We step into the will of God by acknowledging our love of Christ. … Failure leads us to that beautiful discovery that when we are faithless, Christ is faithful.—Charles Price

The soul-making process

We know that moral character gets formed through hardship, through overcoming obstacles, through enduring despite difficulties. Courage, for example, would be impossible in a world without pain. The apostle Paul testified to this refining quality of suffering when he wrote that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Let's face it: we learn from the mistakes we make and the suffering they bring. The universe is a soul-making machine, and part of that process is learning, maturing, and growing through difficult and challenging and painful experiences. The point of our lives in this world isn't comfort, but training and preparation for eternity. Scripture tells us that even Jesus “learned obedience through suffering”—and if that was true for him, why wouldn't it be even more true for us?—Peter Kreeft

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It takes great faith to face what looks like failure and defeat in some area and still keep standing on My Word, on My promises. You sometimes feel weary‚ exhausted, discouraged, and can't see the victory or even the potential for victory. Virtually every great man or woman of faith throughout history has had to face those times—sometimes for many years, sometimes until the point of death. Yet no matter how long the struggle, living for Me and holding on to your faith is the ultimate victory.

You may often look defeated in your own eyes, but your commitment in holding on to Me, even when everything looks lost and contrary to logic and reason, is the greatest victory of all.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy



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