Facing Failure (Redefining Success)

Along the way I’ve discovered that trying and failing is better than not trying at all. This has been an arduous lesson, taking years to learn—and I have many years of inaction as proof. You see, my head is filled with ideas and dreams that I stubbornly refuse to try because I’m too afraid to face the possibility of failing. In my single-minded thinking, I assume once I’ve tried something and failed, that’s the end; no replay, no try again, no getting up—that dream’s dead.

I recognize how silly that sounds, but in the past the fear of failure has held me so firmly in its grip that I clutched desperately to my fist-full of unfulfilled dreams, erroneously believing that dreaming was true living. But recently, I’ve discovered it’s not enough to simply dream. Doing something is more fulfilling than sitting on my hands. Trying and failing is far better than simply giving in to the persistent cacophony of ever-nagging “what ifs?”

And I have failed again and again and again and again…But the truth is that the joy really is in the journey; and sometimes at the end of the day, failure and success look very much alike. You see, it’s not in the success or failure, but instead it’s in the starting, the pushing through, and the finishing that true learning happens.

Sadly, this truth does not always keep me from sitting firmly on those long cherished dreams because, if I’m completely honest with myself, the fear of failure still continues to haunt me. That’s where God’s love comes in. It’s in those dark moments, the ones where I’ve completely and miserably failed, that I can still lift my head high and revel in the realization that nothing I do can change God’s love for me—nothing.

What a wonderful revelation! The God Who created the universe cares for me regardless of my failure or success; and when it’s all said and done, the only thing He requires of me is to turn my shattered life fully over to Him. Now that’s success!

So join me as I face my fears and try things that scare me, as I finally give wings to my dust-covered dreams. Join me as I surrender myself fully to God, allowing Him to be the author of my life. Join me as I ask Him to write the best storybook ending of all-time—eternity with Him.

Final Thought: A completely successful life is a life completely surrendered to Christ.