IS THIS OUR PRAYER? – “Teach me thy way, O LORD”
June 2, 2025EXCELLENCE – PURSUE IT PASSIONATELY
June 4, 2025I am sure many we might have heard the old English proverb, “Failure is the stepping stone to success.” I personally like it very much. It tries to tell us, not to get discouraged about failures in our life, but rather, consider it as a stepping stone towards success. This is a great and a wise way of looking at failures in life. It surely is the attitude of a person, who would ultimately succeed.
Life teaches a lot of things to each of us. However, what lessons we will learn is dependent on, how much attention are we willing to pay, and how much effort are we willing to put in. Failure is not the end of the road, however bad the situation. Success is not reaching the summit, and therefore, rest and relax. Both failure and success are not permanent, rather, they are like passing clouds. Today’s failure should be considered as a lesson in, how not to do things. While success, even though good and exhilarating, if we honestly look at it, would not have much of a bearing on our next venture. Both, success and failure, actually would not have any bearing on our next venture, if only we are willing, not to allow them to get to our heads and our hearts, to spoil all our future efforts.
Thomas Alva Edison, the famous scientist, who succeeded at finding a way to light the electric bulb, had failed many times over in his efforts. Edison made Persistence, Perseverance and Resilience the bedrock principles of life and all his efforts, despite the failures. This attitude of not giving up, is the hallmark virtue of a person, who wishes to turn apparent failures into success. Edison famously stated…
– “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” – Thomas Alva Edison
How is life dealing with us? How are we facing life and all its challenges? Do they overwhelm us? Does failure crush us, and our spirit, to try and excel? Does the weight of our failures crush us in our spirits? Let us remember…
– “11…the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill…” “1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” – Ecclesiastes 9:11; Proverbs 16:1-3
May we learn to trust God at all times, especially during our seasons of struggle and failure. Let us learn to commit our situation and our future efforts, and seek His grace and wisdom, to guide us through times of trials and testing. The LORD who called us is faithful and just, He will surely help us. By His grace, we can do all things, and surely succeed, despite all the obstacles – Philippians 4:13. Even so the LORD help us.
