Given January 6, 2012 
I was listening to Joyce Meyer on this day as I drove home from work and she made this statement that stuck with me, “You’re not a failure just because you failed.” And that’s right. We all fail, “..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Even if we don’t sin, we can and do fail at many things but that doesn’t make us a failure. What would make us a failure is to whine and complain how nothing ever goes our way and to not get up and try again; to quit and accept failure.
I began to think of some who failed but are not thought of as failures, in fact, they are famous for being successes. Look at the apostle Peter. One of Jesus’ inner circle who stated he would never deny Jesus but in the heat of the time, failed Him three times. Peter really blew it! But was that the end of it? No, for in Acts 5:15, “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.” No failure here, Peter recovered and went on to carry out Jesus’ plan.
King David – He failed by not going to war like the cammander was supposed to, committing adultry with a neighbor, and having her husband killed. Now that is failing! But David admitted his sin, repented of it and went on to be successful although he suffered turmoil in his family. David is known as, “a man after God’s pwn heart.” (Acts 13:22).
Others who failed but were not failures: Thomas Edison reportedly failed 6000 times before perfecting the electric light bulb. Abraham Lincoln failed in business, lost jobs, had a nervous breakdown and lost in seven elections, once getting less than 100 votes. You could eaisly say he was a failure but he didn’t quit. After losing a US Senate race in 1858, he was elected President of the United States in 1860. Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players ever, failed to make his high school team as a sophmore. That failure spured him on to not give up, work harder, and eventuall make the team and help lead that team to the state championship. He was pretty successful in college and the pros too.
What have you failed in? How many times have you failed at something? Are you ready to quit? Would God accept your resignation? No! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plan for you is success not failure. It’s up to YOU to get up, ask for God’s help, and get back in there. It’s not over, it’s not finished, It’s not ending, It’s only the beginning. When God is in it, all things are new. (Lyrics by Ricardo Sanchez). 