Rev. Johnny L. Barber, II, Th. M.
Moderator, Florida East Coast
Baptist Association
Bouncing Back after Failure
Wikipedia defines failure as the
state or condition of not meeting a
desirable or intended objective, and
may be viewed as the opposite of
success. Failure exists in all spheres
of life. Whenever the desired target
or the predefined end or intent is not
fulfilled, we classify the endeavor as
being a failure. When relationships
don’t work out, whether they are
friendships or marriages, we classify
them as failed relationships and
failed marriages. Industrially, when
products don’t meet projected goals
in sales or designs they are deemed a
failed product. The list goes on and
on failed business ventures, failed
designs, and even failed plans. Failure
exists in all spheres of life. In all of
our lives we will be met with failure
somewhere along the way. No one
wants to be met with failure however,
all of us will experience some failure
in our life: poor plans, damaging
decisions, missed opportunities or
ruptured relationships. If you are not
careful, failure can paralyze you and
prevent you from ever obtaining the
greatness that is yours. The challenge
is when we are met with failure - do
we allow failure to consume us? Do
we allow failure to define us and
even saturate us with fear? Thomas
J. Watson of IBM repute is attributed
with saying “If you want to succeed,
double your failure rate”. All will be
met with failure, but the blessed news
is that failure is not final. You can
bounce back from failure. You can
bounce back from divorce. You can
bounce back from a bad investment.
You can bounce back from bankruptcy.
You can bounce back from the loss of
a house. You can bounce back from
a repossession. You can bounce back
from failure. Your failure is not final!
You can bounce back from failure!
Failure is not something that any of
us set out to accomplish. However,
it appears that there is an inevitable
nature that ensures every human
being with a moment of failure at
some point in their lifetime. I must
admit that in my life, I have failed
and have struggled. These failures
are not moments of pride they are
embarrassing, shameful and hurtful
and caused low, dark moments in my
life. These times were pivotal because
of the personal emotional trauma
that was caused. I could have resided
in this low emotional state and have
been paralyzed. This paralyzation
would have prevented any progress
or future accomplishments in my life.
It was in these moments that comfort
and encouragement was found in the
Word of God. I began to look for
Biblical examples of people who were
met with failure but did not allow
failure to consume and cripple them -
one such person was Abraham.
Abraham, who was known as the
Father of Faith, was on a journey
toward being the great man that
God had called him to be. This
journey was not a smooth one. He
was met with failure along the way
towards greatness. When I looked at
Abraham, I witnessed his humanity.
This revealed to me that he had some
imperfections. It was in Egypt where
Abraham experienced failure.
I noticed that:
•
He failed to trust that God
would take care of him in times of
lack.
•
He failed to trust God and stay
where God had led him.
•
He failed to trust that God
would protect him while in Egypt.
•
He failed to trust the promises
of God.
•
He failed to trust God and set
a godly example before his family and
the Egyptians.
Despite all of this, Abraham was given
grace even while he was in Egypt, God
granted him favor. This was a moment
of rejoicing for me as it reminded me
of the faithfulness of God and how
generous God is even to the Christian
that fails. The 13th chapter of Genesis
opens up with the actions of Abraham
on the back end of failing while on his
journey towards greatness. We learn
here from the actions of Abraham
how to bounce back after failure. This