I don’t know about you, but God seems to teach me a lot more when I am wading through failure, rather than sailing through success…
Looking at characters in the Bible such as Moses and Joseph, you can see that despite unbelievable failure, they end up succeeding. In fact, each failure was actually a building block towards their success!
Joseph for example - he had several failures forced upon him through no fault of his own. Being beaten by his brothers and thrown into a pit, sold to slave traders, sold again as a slave, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, ending up in jail, and then being forgotten for two years just when it looked like he was going to be released, is a litany of failures in anyone’s book.
However during all this time, God’s favour and leading was over him. Genesis 39:20-21 says, “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden.” Through God’s power, these incredible failures in his life became the foundation and building blocks for his destiny to rule Egypt as the Prime Minister.
As well as being with us through trials, God helps us to develop our character (if we allow Him), to come out the other side stronger, faster and more equipped. One of my favourite sporting quotes is from the legendary basketballer Michael Jordan. “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
As you go through tough times, remember that God has got your back, you are His son. Keep praising and blessing Him and you will come through the trials stronger, faster and better equipped for His service in the destiny He has for you!
God bless and go for it!
Tom O’Neil
Tom O’Neil has spoken at PK events and formerly served on the PK Board. Tom is a life coach, career specialist and Managing Director of CV.CO.NZ