The Other Side Of Failure!
“Your attitude towards failure determines your altitude after failure.” – John MaxwellYour perspective of what the world calls failure is what determines your response and reaction to it, and that in turn determines your outcome when you find yourself in such a situation. Some people see failure as the end of their journey and believe that nothing good could ever come out of them or the situation, so they excuse themselves from every opportunity they may have to succeed again. Yet there are others who see failure differently and they go ahead to make the most of it; they attain astounding successes that make it hard for anyone to believe that they ever failed.Failure never leaves you the same way, it will either leave you flat on the ground or become a stepping stone to your greatness, depending on your perspective. What is the right perspective to failure? What really is failure?It is only an event.The first thing you must understand about failure is that it is only an event, while you are a person, and that means you are superior to failure. An event is simply an occurrence, it only ‘comes to pass,’ not to stay. So, when you see failure around your life, regard it as a passer by, don’t let it stick to you.Every event is short lived, it is not meant to last forever. No matter how long failure has been hanging around your life, you are bound to outlive it. So let the event pass instead of allowing your life to pass with it. If you learn to see failure as an event, you will surely outlive your failure.Failure does not have power to stick to you except you embrace it. Unfortunately, many people celebrate failure to a point where they get into depression, which often leads to a breakdown in health such as hypertension, paralysis, etc. Stop recollecting your sad past, rather, create the future you desire because it takes more effort and pains to recollect than to create. Thinking backward is harder than thinking forward. Memory is more tasking than imagination.Failure is an occurrence. It may occur around your life but the truth is you cannot fail. When the devil says, “You have come to your end”, tell him “This is just a bend!” So, rather than stopping, you simply negotiate your situation as a bend and move on.
The Force Of Courage!
“Your attitude towards failure determines your altitude after failure.” – John MaxwellYour perspective of what the world calls failure is what determines your response and reaction to it, and that in turn determines your outcome when you find yourself in such a situation. Some people see failure as the end of their journey and believe that nothing good could ever come out of them or the situation, so they excuse themselves from every opportunity they may have to succeed again. Yet there are others who see failure differently and they go ahead to make the most of it; they attain astounding successes that make it hard for anyone to believe that they ever failed.Failure never leaves you the same way, it will either leave you flat on the ground or become a stepping stone to your greatness, depending on your perspective. What is the right perspective to failure? What really is failure?It is only an event.The first thing you must understand about failure is that it is only an event, while you are a person, and that means you are superior to failure. An event is simply an occurrence, it only ‘comes to pass,’ not to stay. So, when you see failure around your life, regard it as a passer by, don’t let it stick to you.Every event is short lived, it is not meant to last forever. No matter how long failure has been hanging around your life, you are bound to outlive it. So let the event pass instead of allowing your life to pass with it. If you learn to see failure as an event, you will surely outlive your failure.Failure does not have power to stick to you except you embrace it. Unfortunately, many people celebrate failure to a point where they get into depression, which often leads to a breakdown in health such as hypertension, paralysis, etc. Stop recollecting your sad past, rather, create the future you desire because it takes more effort and pains to recollect than to create. Thinking backward is harder than thinking forward. Memory is more tasking than imagination.Failure is an occurrence. It may occur around your life but the truth is you cannot fail. When the devil says, “You have come to your end”, tell him “This is just a bend!” So, rather than stopping, you simply negotiate your situation as a bend and move on.
The Force Of Courage!
Simply defined, courage is an untiring and undefeatable attitude, born out of determination. It is basically an issue of the heart, although it manifests in outward steps of bravery and boldness. Courage is not subject to the environment, neither does it cower to public opinion.
It can also be described as the ability to take steps in the face of imminent opposition, obstacles, hardships and difficulties. It is the ability to continue on a journey once started.
Apart from giving you the boldness to step out, it supplies the perseverance you need to take you through to the end. If you must win, then you must possess courage.
It takes courage to start and finish a project. Certainly you need boldness to take the first step into any venture, but it takes persistence to keep on pressing against the odds. For instance, it takes boldness to start building a place of worship, but you need a courageous heart to push on when finances appear to be dwindling.
Courage is the ability to retain your language even when circumstances want to force you to change it. This implies that when you possess courage, nothing will be able to intimidate you. A man of courage neither requires outside support nor inspiration to keep going on. He is naturally motivated.
Courage helps you not to murmur and to be able to tame the craving of your flesh when faced with challenges and hardness. Moses was ordained by God to lead Israel out of Egypt. They all went out boldly, but murmured against him at the sight of the Red Sea. “Moses, why didn’t you leave us to die in Egypt, where our graves can be located? Why have you brought us to be food for the whales of this sea?” But Moses demonstrated full confidence. He told them:
…For ye not (be courageous even though some are rebelling), stand still (for murmuring kills), and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them no more for ever.
…For ye not (be courageous even though some are rebelling), stand still (for murmuring kills), and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them no more for ever.
Ex.14:13 (paraphrased)
As I said earlier, men of courage do not murmur or complain. Their bodies may react, their mind may want to accept the philosophy of the environment, but courage will say to them, “Forward March!”
A great American and former President, Abraham Lincoln, suffered political defeats all the polls at several levels, yet he persisted until he finally won the presidential election.
What prevented him from despairing was courage. Had he given up at any of the point of failure, he would have missed his time of visitation and America would also have been deprived of the impact of his able leadership. Now Abraham Lincoln is a household name in America. This is the product of courage.
Prophet Micah said prophetically:
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy:
When I fall, I shall arise… Micah 7:8
King David adds:
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Ps.37:24
Courage does not count the number of falls one had, but looks forward to more opportunities of success. You are permitted to fall a couple of times, but never count yourself out of the game until you win! The man of divine wisdom, king Solomon, recapitulates this truth:
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again… Prov.24:16
Indeed, Abraham Lincoln fell several times, but he rose up after each fall. Friend, even if you have fallen today, your tomorrow is full of promise. You can become a success.
God neither takes pleasure in your failure nor delights in your defeat. You can rise again. Disappointments and defeat can be painful, but the joy of the triumph that awaits you will definitely overshadow the pains.
It takes courage to live life to the full, and that courage is yours! Whatever project you had dropped before, pick it up again. Decide to rise, and you will. No matter how deep the pit is, a man of courage soon finds his way out of it with a smile on his face. So, you are coming out of any pit you may have found yourself in now, in Jesus’ name.
Courage can turn your shattered life around and make you a celebrity in your generation and generations to come.
As I said earlier, men of courage do not murmur or complain. Their bodies may react, their mind may want to accept the philosophy of the environment, but courage will say to them, “Forward March!”
A great American and former President, Abraham Lincoln, suffered political defeats all the polls at several levels, yet he persisted until he finally won the presidential election.
What prevented him from despairing was courage. Had he given up at any of the point of failure, he would have missed his time of visitation and America would also have been deprived of the impact of his able leadership. Now Abraham Lincoln is a household name in America. This is the product of courage.
Prophet Micah said prophetically:
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy:
When I fall, I shall arise… Micah 7:8
King David adds:
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Ps.37:24
Courage does not count the number of falls one had, but looks forward to more opportunities of success. You are permitted to fall a couple of times, but never count yourself out of the game until you win! The man of divine wisdom, king Solomon, recapitulates this truth:
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again… Prov.24:16
Indeed, Abraham Lincoln fell several times, but he rose up after each fall. Friend, even if you have fallen today, your tomorrow is full of promise. You can become a success.
God neither takes pleasure in your failure nor delights in your defeat. You can rise again. Disappointments and defeat can be painful, but the joy of the triumph that awaits you will definitely overshadow the pains.
It takes courage to live life to the full, and that courage is yours! Whatever project you had dropped before, pick it up again. Decide to rise, and you will. No matter how deep the pit is, a man of courage soon finds his way out of it with a smile on his face. So, you are coming out of any pit you may have found yourself in now, in Jesus’ name.
Courage can turn your shattered life around and make you a celebrity in your generation and generations to come.
One of the foremost qualities of our Master Jesus was courage. Five thousand men, in addition to the undisclosed, but I assume larger number of women, and children, were very hungry. With great ease, He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down.” That is to say, “Every one of them will be satisfied, just get them to sit down in groups for Me.” That is courage!
Also, when Elisha was besieged by the Syrian army, his servant said, “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” Elisha’s confident reply was:
…Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
2kings 6:16
Many have lost their heritage in God through fear and lack of courage. They have failed to realize that there is a place of comfort, joy and fulfillment awaiting them, but only courage can take them there.
You are worth more than you think. You are meant for greater heights and have a glorious destiny in God; but you require courage to take you to that place of destiny.
Everything in life calls for courage. Giving, for instance, requires courage. When it is time to sow financial seeds, the “lawyer” within retorts, “How will you eat? How will you…?” You will realize that all the “hows” point to facts and not the truth of God’s Word. You need courage to dismiss those endless “hows” and say, “ I will follow the truth, even though it doesn’t feel too good now.”
