How To Prevent Internal And External Failure

How To Prevent Internal and External Failure

One of the greatest fears that people have today is ending their life as a failure. So many people resemble the famous comedian Chris Farley of Saturday Night Live Fame whose life ended in failure and death at 33 years of age. Chris experienced external success but lived with a nagging sense of internal failure. How do we overcome this sense of internal or external failure when we make mistakes?

But what do we do when we do make a mistake, do we give in and say to you, it is not worth trying. I will never be a success.

Illustration: He who never makes a mistake never makes anything.

Possibly A. Lincoln.

Quote: Even a turtle never goes anywhere unless it risks sticking out his head once in a while.

A person who wants to avoid failure realizes that success is found in the Lord and in His purposes for our lives. David wrote, “You will make known to me the paths of life. In your presence is fullness of joy and in your right hand are pleasures forever more.” (Psa. 16:9-11)

Let us look a several guidelines in avoiding various types of internal and external failure from the eyes of God.

1. Too many people allow their discouragements to get to them and quit prematurely.

Illustration: Definition of discouragement: Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God. William Ward.

Today in the Word, April 1989, p. 18.

"Casting all your care upon Him because He cares for you." Allow setbacks to be warning lights on the dashboard of our life that help alert you to take care of things before they become more serious.

2. Failure is never final until you let it be. Paul wrote, "Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor.15:58)

Illustration: Nobody wins all the time. Everyone occasionally faces setbacks. The greatest baseball player who ever lived got on base 39.4% of the time. The greatest soccer player, Pele of Brazil, only scored goals on less than 3% of his shots. Many of the greatest home run hitters of all time also struck out more than most other players. Nobody is expected to triumph every time - but some us would like to think we could. Mistakes are a part of life. Every defeat can either make us better or bitter, the choice is up to us. Let us discover some of the principles of preventing real failure.

The famous song, "They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down." Is a good reminder for us all. The Lord understands that we will make mistakes and learn how to be overcomers instead of being overcome by them.

3. You are never a failure unless you give up. Paul wrote, "Do not be weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not." (Gal. 6:9,10)

Illustration: An old hymn often cheers me when I am feeling weary in well doing. "Are you weary, are you heavy hearted. Tell it to Jesus. Tell it to Jesus. Are you grieving over joys departed. Tell it to Jesus alone. Chorus: Tell it to Jesus. Tell it to Jesus. He is a friend that’s well known. You’ve no other such a friend or brother. Tell it to Jesus alone." He will take your burden and replace it with encouragement, consolation of love, fellowship of the Spirit, His affection and compassion. (Phil. 2:1,2)

4. People are not counted out until they decide in their minds to surrender to their circumstances.

Illustration: Thomas Edison’s manufacturing facilities in West Orange, N.J., were heavily damaged by fire one night in December, 1914. Edison lost almost $1 million worth of equipment and the record of much of his work. The next morning, walking about the charred embers of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old inventor said: "There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew."

Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism

5. Failure results from ignoring the will of God. Jesus said, "If anyone is willing to do my will they will know of the teaching, whether it is from God or not." (John 7: 17) If you are willing to do what God calls you to do, He will supply you with the grace, provisions and energy to accomplish His purposes.