Success: Handling Failures (Part 3)
By Jean A Sturgill | April 20, 2012
God is Sovereign -
I remember a friend sharing a story with me about a man who said that God had told him to run for student body president. He ran. He talked about God all along the way, and he lost. He asked God why. The answer was something like, “I told you to run. I never said that you’d win. Think of all the people you witnessed to along the way.”
Remember, God is sovereign. He picks the winners and the losers. You can only do your best. Sometimes you don’t get what you want – that job, opportunity, etc. – because God has a different plan for you. You don’t want to be standing at point A when He wants you to be standing at point B.
The value is not always where we think that it is. Sometimes it’s not the goal, but it’s the journey that makes the difference. It really is in our witness to folks along the way.
Many folks believe that God set this world in motion and walked away. Some believe that He is not interested in the little details of our lives. Scripture does not support either of those thoughts. God is actively participating in the lives of others throughout scripture. Consider Job, Moses, Paul, and others. He still actively participates in our lives.
When you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you will see more and more of His interaction because your eyes will be open to it. You will be looking for it. And as you listen for God to speak, you will often hear His direction for your life.
Just recently, I was in a speech contest. I had moved a few levels up. I had hoped to win the state and possibly move beyond, but speech contests are a bit subjective. I was particularly interested in the state level for 2 reasons. One, I thought it would draw attention to my business. Two, I wanted video of this particular speech because it points to God’s goodness, and I knew that the state level would be video taped. (I don’t typically like being video taped, but I digress…) Surprisingly, at the level just prior to the state level, I was handed a video release form. What went through my head at that time was that this was God’s provision for me. I may not make it to the next level. – And I didn’t.
You may be thinking that I beat myself by thinking that, but that was not the case at all. Several folks said that was the best they had ever seen me give that speech. Does the fact that I lost mean that I was not supposed to compete? No, not at all. I felt particularly led to compete. That’s a speech I want to share with the world, and God provided for that. I can hardly wait to see the video. I hope to put it on my website and various other social networks. As good as the speech was, it just wasn’t in God’s plan for me to win that day.
Was I disappointed? Absolutely, but only for a short time. I’m human. I wanted to win! But much like my opening story, God never said I’d win. I’ll choose God’s plan for me over winning any day. What about you? Which would you rather have? Your way? Or, God’s way?
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
LIFE APPLICATION
The challenge is to be content where you are, even when you don’t get what you thought you wanted. God is sovereign. Believe that He has the best plan for your life. Believe that He has your best interest at heart. Success is more than achieving that one thing that you thought you wanted. It’s about the journey. It’s about the people we reach for the Lord along the way. It’s about our relationship with Jesus.
Your Big Challenge
Your big challenge is understand that being able to handle or accept failure is important if you want to be successful. If you don’t handle failure well you may become too discouraged to continue. If you did your best, awesome! If not, do better next time. Always look for ways to improve. Understand that you may not find any. Get input from your friends. Remember that sometimes those failures are not your fault entirely. They may simply be times when God has said, “No.” Don’t be tempted to take a crowbar to that door. Leave it closed, and move on. Be encouraged that God is always working!
Topics: Business Challenges, Fundamentals | Leave a Comment »
Newsletter: Subscribe Now
Social:
Follow @drewsanimals
Tweet
Success: Handling Failures (Part 2)
By Jean A Sturgill | April 18, 2012
Improvement? -
Have you ever heard someone say, “There’s always room for improvement”? I know that it’s meant to be encouraging, and it’s meant to keep you from taking things personally, but honestly it’s not always true. Sometimes there is no room for improvement.
Consider the fastest runner. Can he each time run faster and faster? Will he ever be able to outrun an automobile? No, of course not.
Consider a sentence written in perfect grammar. Will you be able to make it more perfect? No, of course not.
Consider anything you want, there is a level of perfection of which cannot be overcome. You can’t do better than a perfect score on a math test. You can’t do better than a perfectly timed piece of music. It is what it is.
However, most of the time there will be room for improvement. You should always try to find ways to improve before you determine that there aren’t any. It’s easy to try to measure room for improvement on subjective things from our own perspective, which may or may not be well informed. Consider a first year piano student. They may be able to pick out certain things in concert performance that can be improved upon, but they typically don’t have the ear and the experience to pick out the things that a trained ear would be able to pick out. Not only that, we are often too close to a situation to determine if there is room for improvement. We need to consult others – especially those who are more knowledgeable than we are.
Finally, if you don’t get that job that you wanted, it doesn’t mean that you weren’t qualified. The way that you composed your resume may be hindering you. Your interview skills may need work. Then again, everything may be just right. Improve where you can.
What if you can’t improve? What if there is no room for improvement? You can be sure that in life that even when there is no room for improvement, you can still fail to get that job, win that contract, sell that manuscript, etc. Things that are subjective are, well, subjective.
You can have that winning smile, flare for customer service, be loaded down with qualifications, and still not come out on top. Not everyone will like and appreciate your winning combination. Not everyone will hire you, buy your manuscript, or approve of whatever it is you are trying to achieve.
When that happens, keep the first part of this verse in mind.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalms 46:10
LIFE APPLICATION
The challenge is to be careful with the concept of improvement. It’s really a double edge sword. If you think that you cannot improve, you may be missing something. If you cannot after consultation with experienced others determine an improvement point, remember that some things are simply subjective.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Trust that God has something else in mind for you. Keep walking by faith. It didn’t work out because it wasn’t meant to be.
Topics: Business Challenges, Fundamentals | Leave a Comment »
Newsletter: Subscribe Now
Social:
Follow @drewsanimals
Tweet