Failure, it’s not our favorite pastime; yet, we all deal with it in everything we do. It’s possible to fail at anything. On my job, I often have to do what’s called “Failure Analysis”. It’s is a detailed breakdown of how a process or machine failed and how it could have been prevented if it could have been prevented and then we create a list of procedures for prevention of reoccurrence. Basically it goes through every little step from human factor to machine factor. Things like the operator performing a task that they weren’t trained to do to the life expectancy of a motor and was it installed properly when the machine was originally built? The procedure doesn’t miss a thing. I despise having to do one of these Failure Analysis reports because of all the details that go into them but usually when they are finished and all the steps are followed out, things are better than before, simpler than before and more efficient than before.
I would like to introduce to another failure analysis process called God’s plan. You’re probably thinking of so many scriptures that tell you that God is not about failure. Scriptures we often quote when times are hard or maybe when trying to encourage some else. Please before you dismiss me give me a chance to explain myself. I know without a doubt in my being according to the book of Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 20 that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us. I also know that in our life here on earth and anything that we might face while here Romans 8:31 tells me that if God is for us, who can be against us. I know these things. Not just the scripture but in all that I know within me having walked out a few things farther than I ever wanted to walk them out I have experienced the word of God at work in my life and not just on the pages of my bible. So that being said, here goes. I have watched athletes train and become very sharp at what they do only to have failed time and time and time again. I can show you throughout history where many powerful empires have risen and conquered all only to fail in the end. In nature we see the cycle of life as it plays out in an only the strong survive short story before our eyes.
I’m not trying to be negative by any means, I only want us to take a step back and evaluate how we perceive things for a moment. While failure is not your plan, it is necessary. It is necessary in nature that weak and feeble are overcome and devoured by the strong, to help prevent disease and control population. To ensure that the future generation remains young and healthy. This is no different in our day to day lives. Failure is a key part in how we survive and even thrive. Because of other’s failures we know that if you step out in front of a moving car you could die so because of this simple yet catastrophic failure on some else’s behalf, most of us choose not to play in traffic. I know this is a comical look at it but it is also an honest observation. Many of the decisions about safety and health that we make for ourselves are because of some else’s past failures.
I enjoy hiking. Most people when they start on a hike all they are concerned with is the final destination, which is important; you need to know where you’re going. But what many fail to observe outside of just the distance alone is the inner stamina and strength that is needed to finish the trail. Some trails are littered with obstacles like river crossing and fallen trees. The wildlife can also make a hike very interesting especially while carrying a 20 pound pack. Many forget to pay attention to how steep the grade of a trail is and how it varies though out the trail. All of these things can make for a bad day but now having experienced all of these things at one time or another I have learned to prepare for them and overcome. But before I was educated, I failed horribly. Many a hike got cut short and made me feel like an idiot for not being prepared but each time I got a little further and a little more determined and a lot stronger physically and mentally, I learned to endure.
You will fail. I don’t like it and you shouldn’t either but it is necessary for you to grow. You must know this if you don’t remember anything else I say, it is never about the failure, it’s all about the learning experience. Get over it! You fell on your face and it sucked but if you don’t take time to learn from it before you jump back up I promise you will eat dirt again. I was reminded of the story of Thomas Edison when he was asked about how he felt about the 10,000 times he failed trying to create the light bulb before he finally succeeded. He said he never failed, he only found 9,999 ways not to build a light bulb. Talk about endurance. Many of you have you used WD-40 on rusty bolt or to remove the bugs from the grill of your car but do you know what the name WD-40 stand for? (Water displacement formula number 40) Many great ideas and inventions took several years and many failures before becoming a reality.
Failures are stepping stones upon which the feet of success use to get to their destination.
Learn to change the way you react when things don’t go the way they should. Stop throwing a tantrum every time you don’t get it right the first time. Stop and breathe, take a look around and ask God to show you what you missed the first time and thank Him for the ability to endure until the end. Life as you know it will begin to change. The quality of life and the joy of living will return. Depression and anger can’t reside where joy abounds. You will grow spiritually as you are in constant prayer seeking God’s direction and wisdom. Frustration and mediocrity can’t remain where wisdom and knowledge are found. A mind filled with moments of prayer won’t allow for anxieties and loneliness. All of these things can and will change if you only take the time to change how you look at your failures. So you think the prophesy that was spoken over your life has forgotten you. WRONG!!! It’s waiting on you to get over your failures so it can align with the abundant successful life that is in God’s plan for you.
Failure for us as men of God is where we allow our free will to overcome the will of God for our lives. This is also where we build the endurance necessary to stand. We do it our way and we fail. We get back up learn from our mistake and press on. As our free will is changed from our will to His will we see where we fail and we learn and grow and before long there are fewer failures and more success. So now having been given the knowledge, we more clearly see the need for the failures to ever grow the success of all things that God has for us. It is even a part of salvation to be able to see that you have failed in order to learn that you have need of a Savior. Failure should not be seen as a stopping point but as another tool to assist you in strengthening your walk as a man of God.
M.U.S.C.L.E. 