Failure vs Victory

How do you see failure?  Is it seen as defeat?

Fortunately I have had the influence of others to instead see failure as opportunity to gain experience, understanding, learning and spiritual growth. I reflect on my daughters when young and attempting to walk. They would take a step then fall, take two steps and fall again.  In their failure to walk they showed no frustration or disappointment.  They simply got themselves back up with the help of me or my wife and trudged on and improving with every try.  This is the example of faith we are to hold to in our Lord.  I believe it was the historical Greenbay coach Lombardi who said, “Reach for perfection and attain excellence.“ That is our goal as beliebers for it is God who works in us to do his will and good pleasure in us, Phil. 2:13.  Faith is stepping out so he can do so.

July 21 of every year marks the anniversary of the landing on the moon. There was a trail of failures that led to this successful mission. The failures didn’t quench the program though filled with pain and loss.

The apostle Peter’s sinking when walking on water is often pointed to as a failed act of faith. Sermons have even chastised the apostle for his lack of faith and attention on the storm. But I see it as a success because Peter was willing to test his faith and get out of the boat. He was willing to risk failing.  Consider how this experience molded his relationship and faith in Jesus. Meanwhile the others remained in the boat as spectators.

I often say faith is not demonstrated by what you avoid but by what you go through and remain in trust of the Lord.  The centurion of Luke chapter 7 was touted as having “great faith.” Not because he was able to care and heal his servant but that he trusted the authority of Jesus to simply speak so his servant be healed. He found himself to be a failure in his limitations yet his limitations led him to seek, know and experience Jesus.

I could go on with example after example from scriptures but I’ll finish by quoting the apostle Paul, “For when I am weak, then am I strong”  (1Cor 13:10).  Don’t be afraid of failing but rather get out of the boat and gain experience to grow in your faith. Jesus will reveal his strength in your steps whether in of triumph or in failure.

"Peace, be still"

Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash

Mark 4:35-41 “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jesus made a simple command, "Let us cross over to the other side." The disciples were asked to perform what was a typical part of their life, to take a boat across the Galilee. But this trip became more challenging than others. A response was required to the increasingly threatening conditions. They did all that was within their abilities and knowledge, yet it was futile and the boat was further taking on water. But as they panicked Jesus lay asleep at the rear of the sinking vessel.

"Do You not care that we are perishing? There is a defining contrast of perceptions and responses between the disciples and the teacher. These men, who had already witnessed the miracles performed by their teacher, are anticipating their demise by the conditions surrounding them. Jesus can raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out demons but not cannot change the conditions they now find themselves in.

"Peace, be still." Three words, one command and the sea ceased its disruption. But so did the disciples cease their panic. His command was as much for them to obey as it was for the storm. Jesus will speak the same to you today in whatever storm you are in if you would seek him. Rather than be in a panic over the conditions of your life or the world, rather than fearing for your life, look at your teacher, peaceful with his head on a pillow, at rest in your boat. Our seeking of the Lord's intervention is often an afterthought. A last ditch effort to respond to our storm. Why is this? We, like the disciples, don't grasp the totality of who Jesus is. In the eyes of the disciples he was a man, a rabbi, a teacher, a prophet, but short of who he truly was, the Christ and son of God. This can be our mistake as well. Cease your panic and ask the Lord to reveal himself to you. Look to him and learn from his restful disposition that he has the power to bring peace to your storm and peace to your heart.

Blessings

pBob