Devotionals

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Trying Is A Virtue
© 2015

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Let your eyes look straight ahead , and your eyelids look right before you.

Proverbs 4:25 (NIV)


Over the last 30 years or so, a few number of behaviorists had ingeniuosly concluded that failure results in cognitive dissonance, loss of self-esteem resulting in a life of failure. A book was written titled “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying”. Thousands of copies were sold. Those who hung on every word of the book came to realize that they were no less sufferers of cognitive dissonance, their self-esteems did not benefit and for most failure, as they measured failure, seemed a persistent problem. Many asked what happened?

Or, how many of us fell into the belief that by stuffing envelops we would come into instant wealth. Be able to retire within a few years selling wonder products. Pull down $5,000 a week setting up vending machines in key location with little or no effort.

P.T. Barnum stated and wrote: “There’s a sucker born every minute”. His statement rings true today as it did when first uttered. Far too many people continue to believe there exists easy ways to suceed without hard work, failure, risk, suffering. They desire success but they do not want what it takes to achieve what success requires.

Virtually every person who has succeeded has a story of struggle, failure, suffering and challenge. So why did they succeed where most do not? Because they recognize virtue in failure, struggle, challenge. They picked themselves up and moved forward. Their struggles resulted in success. For some, financial rewards. Others personal satisfaction without a great deal of wealth. Still others neither, wealth or the comfortable life but, nonetheless, happiness in the simple things.

A person never fails if he or she tries to succeed even though that person does not reach the goal they set for themselves. People throughout history started on a journey for one thing only to find something more satisfying than what they set out to achieve.

Not everyone who mines for diamonds finds them, but they will most certainly strengthen their muscles. In the end, most often learn the struggle and the lessons learned are more valuable than the prize. Humankind, throughout history, owes its well-being to what the world refers to as effort. While a person’s struggles takes hold of their attention and absorbs energy, it always seems to add to human drives, enthusiam and eventually confidence. Consequently, if a person maintains a forward looking pace or perspective, keep their eye on a prize as well as expect something good or great will eventually result from struggle, failure, challenge, that person will be a winner at some point!


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, at times the world sometimes seems complicated, cruel, merciless and is beyond understanding. We witness suffering, human failure, murder, war, poverty and disease. Many humans tody are bound by vanity, fear and godlessness. Strengthen the faith of Your followers to remain strong in the face of ridicule, dehumanization, physical pain and suffering to realize You are in control and not abandon their faith to the challenges of the world. Open our minds to truth that everything proceeds according to Your Will and Divine plan. Let compassion and unconditional love for our brothers and sisters regardless of the condition of their immortal soul—believer or non-believer. Let us, by word, example and deed faithfully carry the Good News to all. These things we pray. Amen.

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