Posts Tagged ‘failure’
Down but not out
By Lin Pearson
In 1991, Derek Redmond was part of the British 4 X 400m relay team which took Gold at the World Championships. From that peak, the events of the following year were shattering.
It was the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
Derek had a sizzling start, in the semi-final of the 400m. He overhauled the three runners ahead of him on the stagger. Then – disaster!
His right hamstring tore. He crashed down onto the track. But, before the medical team could reach him, he was on his feet.
In excruciating pain, he began hopping forward. He still had 250m to go, and all the other runners had passed him.
Film of the even show Derek gritting his teeth against the pain, frustration and tears of bitter disappointment .
Then, out of the grandstands, ran a man.
He rushed toRedmond’s side, hugged him and supported him. It was his father. Jim Redmond told his son “You don’t have to do this.”
Derek replied: “Yes I do”.
“Then we’ll do it together” responded his father.
Together they hopped and staggered to the finishing line, to the cheers and tears of all who witnessed the scene.
In our lives, too, we may feel that disaster has struck.
Hopes can be shattered; plans and hard work may come to nothing. Ambitions and dreams may be thwarted. Our best intentions may be rejected. Yet, for the Christian, these events need not bring the crushing defeat you may imagine. Our Heavenly Father is with us all the way, through disaster, to triumph! Here is what the Bible promises for those who have a personal relationship with God, through Jesus.
‘…the Lord … goes before you; He will march with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; … fear not, neither become broken in spirit…(depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm)’ (Deut 31:8 – Amp.)
Maybe in your ‘life race’ you have fallen, perhaps even been grievously hurt.
You may think: ‘Nothing can get me back on my feet again.’ Don’t be ‘depressed , dismayed or unnerved’!
Turn to God in your need. He is waiting for you to welcome Him into your life. The problems may not go away, any more than Derek Redmond’s did in Barcelona. But with the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Friend, you will have a Helper and Companion who will never leave you and never forsake you. ■
This article was printed first in FIRST! magazine, published by The Faith Mission.
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Failure need not mean defeat
Success did not come easily to Thomas Edison, the man who invented the electric light bulb. Time after time his experiments failed. Or did they?
When asked is this lack of success discouraged him he said:
I did not fail 1,073 times. I found 1,073 ways not to do it.
He always asked himself: “What can I learn from this? How shall I do it differently next time?”
Take encouragement! You, too, can turn apparent failure into an opportunity to grow in character and spiritually, if you learn from your failure. The old song encourages us: “Pick yourself up, dust yourself down and start all over again!” and with God’s help we can do just that.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Failure does not mean I’m a failure;
It does mean I have not yet succeeded.
Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
It does mean I have learned something;
Failure does not mean I have been a fool,
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.
Failure does not mean I’ve been disgraced;
It does mean I dared to try.
Failure does not mean I don’t have it;
It does mean I have to do something in a different way.
Failure does not mean I am inferior;
It does mean I am not perfect.
Failure does not mean I’ve wasted my life;
It does mean I have an excuse to start over again.
Failure does not mean I should give up;
It does mean I must try harder.
Failure does not mean I’ll never make it;
It does mean I need more patience.
Failure does not mean God has abandoned me;
It does mean He must have a better idea.
- Author unknown
IT HAS BEEN SAID…
Never walk away from failure. On the contrary, study it carefully - and imaginatively – for its hidden assets. – Michael Korda
Be of good cheer. Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. – Helen Keller
Failure is an attitude, not an outcome. – Harvey Mackay
This article was published by The Faith Mission, Edinburgh, in Life Indeed magazine March/April 2004Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill
