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Topic: Failure (03/01/04)
TITLE: The Two-Edged Sword of Failure By Anna Johnson 03/08/04 |
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I remember when I first became a Christian, and stumbled upon a workbook on faith. I spent many hours reading the Scriptures the author quoted in the workbook, followed by several hours filling in the biblical answers to the questions posed in the workbook. Of all that I read, however, what I recall most often when I feel like a failure are two profound questions the author asked:
"So you feel like a failure?"
"Who told you that you were a success?"
In this battle for faith, the Word of God is a two-edged sword. As Christians, we have a choice to accept failure as a means to die to the flesh and live through Jesus Christ, or continue to make excuses and justify sin. Our view of failure, sadly, is not God's. Our precious Lord says that "the way of transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 13:15, KJV), yet His "yoke is easy and [His] burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). If we continue to rebel, choose fear over faith, or embrace bad choices, we have no other recourse than to fail where life counts most for the Kingdom of God.
We often assume life's greatest failures are either divorce, sickness, poverty, a thankless job, not using our gifts or talents, emotional or physical pain, or other circumstances that "feel" like none are more disheartening. Yet, our Creator says our greatest aim ought to be first seeking a right relationship with Him, from which union comes no regret. When we choose the way of a transgressor, we grieve the Holy One of Israel Whose two-edged sword cuts to the quick of our true motivation. While the Lord lives in the hearts of His children, we must allow His Word to dig deep into "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible" (1 Peter 3:4), where we "eat of the hidden manna" (Revelation 2:17), which purifies our hearts for His purposes.
It's painful failing in areas that personally matter most, yet in the midst of pain and emptiness, we can either avoid truth or allow it to create an even stronger desire to open our wounds to divine healing. As we cry out, and draw nigh unto Him, we become acutely aware that "without [Him], [we] can do nothing" (John 15:5, KJV). Living in His will, through His divine strength, is the only place we become receptive to God's definition of true success -- failing in the flesh, and living victoriously through His Spirit.
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"So you feel like a failure?"
"Yes, I feel like a big failure. My life has not turned out the way I hoped it would."
"Who told you that you were a success?"
"Well, no one, except my desires and me. I know I'm not successful in the way I want to be. But, I'm always trying to make my life better. And these desires and needs keep growing stronger, almost to the point of distraction. It seems the harder I try, the less it happens. Then, I get aggressive, disappointed and frustrated, and finally, I get angry, and come to my Beloved crying, screaming, and begging. Will it ever happen?"
Since I can only release what I can't make happen in my flesh, I turn to my heart's Resource for success. As I cry out to Him, He renews me a seeker of His truth, and I find I am one step closer to facing failure in the flesh and surrendering to the Spirit. My anxious heart then finds peace in living through His Spirit, while I learn to patiently wait on God's perfect plan for my life -- His power working through me, which "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that [I] can think or ask" (Ephesians 3:20)!