One
of my most favorite movie lines was delivered by a puppet. In The Empire Strikes Back of the Star Wars
series, when Luke Skywalker is instructed by his teacher to do what would
normally be impossible he responds, “I’ll try”.
I love it when Yoda replies, “Try not!
Do or do not!” Luke puts his best
effort into the task and starts to do the task then fails explaining, “I just
can’t do it, it’s impossible,” whereas Yoda shakes his head and states, “That
is why you fail.”
Wikipedia
describes Failure as the state or
condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed
as the opposite of success.
Webster’s Dictionary states that Failure is an
omission of occurrence or performance; specifically: a failing to perform a duty or expected
action (as in not paying the rent): a state of inability to perform a normal
function (as in a person’s kidneys not working): an abrupt cessation of normal
functioning (as in an electrical power failure).
“Do not lie in wait,
O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting
place; For a righteous man falls seven
times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse. Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be
glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,” –Proverbs 24:15-17
AMP
Why do the righteous fall and then rise
again? Why do they keep trying? We believers keep trying because we have a
hope (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP). During a family devotion my Dad, Tom, once
said, “Failure is victory. People try
and try and try and try! That’s how they
become successful in their endeavors.”
I have failed at many things in my
life as I am sure you have too. I have
also succeeded in many things as well.
Why? I have found that most of my
successes have been preceded by a number of tries and failures, as well as a
change in attitude. The attitude of
being determined to accomplish something did not work. Like Luke Skywalker I was determined but did
not succeed. My successes came when I
turned the issues over to the Lord and waited on His direction. You see, I can do nothing on my own (Romans
9:16; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 3:3) but I can rely on Him “…because
the foolishness of God is not foolishness at all and is wiser than men far
beyond human comprehension, and the weakness of God is stronger than men far
beyond the limits of human effort.” -1 Corinthians 1:25
In conclusion let
me ask you; have you been trying to accomplish something, depressed because
things are not going your way, or struggling with some circumstance or
issue? Exercise your faith and give it
over to God.
“For this very
reason, applying your diligence to the divine promises, make every effort in exercising
your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge insight,
understanding, and in your
knowledge, self-control, and in your
self-control, steadfastness, and in your
steadfastness, godliness, and
in your godliness, brotherly
affection, and in your
brotherly affection, develop Christian love that is, learn to unselfishly seek
the best for others and to do things for their benefit. For as
these qualities are yours and
are increasing in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity, they will keep you
from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” -2 Peter 1:5-8 AMP
