Donald Wickham’s Blog

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everything worked like it as supposed to? If everything we try is a great success? If every test result is an “A+”? Yeh, right, like that is going to happen. So what do we do with these things that didn’t work out?

Failures

We can look at them as failures. One more thing to add to the growing list of failures. Guilt, condemnation, frustration and ultimately giving up is where this leads. We start thinking of ourselves as failures. We are conditioned to think this way. Report cards. Ugh. If not straight “A’s” we focus on why. Performance reviews. We might have 9 great things but that one item needing improvement. Boy, we stress out on that.

Denial

We can shrug our shoulders and say “Oh well” and ignore it. Try as I might, this never seems to work for me. Denial isn’t very effective. And in quiet moments, that little voice reminds us, doesn’t it? Especially when trying something again. That gremlin’s voice brings back all those times things didn’t work before. Even friends and family chime in.

Give up

We can stop trying new things. Stick with what works. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Learning Opportunities

We can reflect on what didn’t go well. Why it didn’t. What we can learn and apply the next time to avoid repeating the mistakes. As we reflect, we can gain a lot. We may discover that that thing wasn’t even something we want to do again. Not because we fear failing but that it isn’t something we enjoy or find beneficial.

Jesus promised us life, abundantly. He also promised trials and tribulations. He knew that not everything would go wonderfully. So what does He have in mind for us?

Wisdom and character

Clearly seeing ourselves as failures, denying what is really going on or just giving up isn’t the character qualities that any of us aspire to.

We are exhorted to “be strong and courageous”, “stand”, “persevere” and similar challenges. The only way to grow in this is to reflect and learn. To review the decisions and actions, asking Father God for His take on them. Learning and applying them for the next time. Children are continually doing this or they would never learn to walk or ride a bike or much of anything. They don’t beat themselves up because it didn’t work the first time or the 100th time. They keep at it. Learning and growing. Perhaps this is another thing Jesus had in mind when He encourages us to be “as little children”. Trusting in Him to help and guide. Learn and grow. This builds character and adds to our wisdom.

So for me, I’m going to really work at not focusing on failure, not denying and not giving up. To reflect and learn and grow. How about you?

Tags:   character · condemnation · denial · failure · Father God · giving up · Guilt · Jesus · learning · success · wisdomNo Comments