What holds your feet firmly planted to the edge of the cliff?
What thoughts keep your toes clenched in hesitation to the cliffs jagged edge?
Is it the “what if’s”? Or the potential to fall? Or is it the FEAR OF FAILURE?
What of failure? The Bible tells us over and over again what we see with our eyes is not all there is to the story. God uses failure as a training ground for His greater purpose being worked out through us.
In Philippians chapter 1 we find the Apostle Paul in prison. Chained up. The gospel message seemed to meet a hopeless halt with the lead apostles imprisoned.
In verse 14 Paul states, “And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”(NIV)
What looked like a failure to the early church was really an opportunity. Paul’s chains opened the door for the believers around him to rise up and exercise their faith and not rely on Paul’s faith to carry them. They had to choose for themselves if their faith was a a faith worth fighting for. Paul’s chains gave believers the courage to defend their faith without fear.
Our failures and unfortunate situations, usher in an opportunity and give those in our sphere of influence the confidence to loosen their toe grip on the cliff’s edge and take a leap of faith too. It encourages others to say, “if he took the leap, I can too!” When we see others rise up, inspired by our leap of faith, the perceived failure looks a lot more like a victory.
Where do you find yourself today? Are you the one who took the leap and are now experiencing a “failure”? If so, look around you, there are people who need to be encouraged to leap as you did. Your fall, may just be the inspiration they need to step into what God is calling them to. Take account, how has God used your “failure” to advance His kingdom?
Or are you the one who’s toes are still clenched to the edge of the cliff? Look around you, “failure” isn’t so bad! There are many around you who have gone before you, and many will come after you who have and will fail. Failing isn’t inevitable. BUT, God will use our failures and our victories for His glory.
There are great lessons to be learned in both victory and defeat. Go ahead, take the leap!
Recent Comments