Let Go of Failure

If you could only use success or failure to describe your life, which one would you use? Some would have no problem with using the word success. Others would have no problem using the word failure. Here are a few definitions of success and failure found in the dictionary:

SUCCESS

1. The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.
2. The performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors.
3. A person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.

FAILURE

1. An act or instance of failing or proving ineffectual; lack of success
2. A subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency
3. A person or thing that proves unsuccessful.

Every one of us can identify with success and failure in life because we all experience them at different times and levels. Nevertheless, to define life with one, or the other may be difficult. How we define success and failure always influences the opinion we have of ourselves. What people think about us, and we about others play a major role in defining our lives. Not only is it difficult, but also dangerous.

It’s unsafe to define life by success or failure.  Only a proper biblical understanding and theology of success and failure can make it safe. The Bible is full of paradoxes: the last become first; the lost become found; the feeble become strong, and I would add, the failures become successes when Jesus is involved.

The apostle Peter makes a great case study for developing a theology of failure and success. His first installment of failure was in the form of a rebuke directed towards Jesus. Jesus predicts his impending death, and resurrection, and Peter didn't like it. The failure left us with these divine words: "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" (Mark 8:33).

Peter didn't fully realize the mission of Jesus. For Jesus to be successful in his mission, he had to fail, or at least that is what Peter thought he was predicting, and by all worldly standards, Jesus did fail.  Peter thought a dead Messiah would be a failure. This is why Peter pulled the sword and cut the ear off a guard because Jesus was not going to die, for death would mean failure.

And we can’t forget the failure that defines Peter's life for most of us, the denial of Christ. It's assumed that Peter denied Jesus for fear of death. It played a part, but the greatest reason Peter denied Christ was his understanding of failure and success.  Peter denied Christ because he did not want to be identified with the failed Messiah.  

Peter, like most of us, was the type of person that learns best the hard way. He had to make a mess of his life doing things his way before he could learn and follow God's way. Fortunately, Peter learned through failure what being a follower Christ is all about. He learned through failure what the cross is all about.

The cross enables us to see ourselves properly, and in doing so; we learn that failure can be become a success at the cross. Our failure is God's opportunity to do something great.

When does failure become a success? When it causes us to surrender everything we are to God's abundant grace.  When God's grace takes our abilities and inabilities, expectations and aspirations, and makes them into something that glorifies the Lord.

It has been said that failure qualifies us for discipleship. I agree.  Failure can lead us to God's magnificent grace, and that, my friend, is the only success that matters.