There is Only One Way to Fail

Life is full of casualties, and contrary to much public conversation, not all of them are the result of having enemies. In most cases, I believe this whole notion that we have “all” these enemies is somewhat exaggerated. There may be a person here or there who, for whatever reason, does not like us and may wish us ill will. But in the main, I don’t believe that everybody is our enemy. In the final analysis, I think that no matter what a person feels or thinks about us, if there is something we really want to accomplish, they can’t stop us.

Unfortunately, I believe that for too many people, we are our own worst enemy. For some reason there is something within our spirit that causes us to do things that undermine our own development and progress. One of the greatest enemies of self fulfillment is fear. Fear has caused more people to become a casualty in life than any other enemy we can name.

Fear creates the image in our head that if we try to fulfill some vision for our life we’re going to fail. Fear makes us doubt our abilities. Fear paralyzes us into inactivity. Fear makes us feel overwhelmed. Fear makes us feel burdened and depressed. Fear is the only cause of failure in life.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. He says that a master gave five talents to one person, two to another, and one to another. Those to whom He gave the one buried his talent, earned no reward. He didn’t even try. He used as his excuse for not trying, “I was afraid. . .” (St. Matthew 25:25)

There is only one way to fail in life, and that is by not trying! Trying and not accomplishing what you set out to accomplish is not failure. As Dr. Benjamin Mays put it, “Not accomplishing our goal is not failure. Having no goal to accomplish is failure.” The hymn writer put it this way, “If when you try and fail in your trying; hands sore and scarred from the work you’ve begun. Pick up your cross and run swiftly to meet Him. He’ll understand and say well done.” Just trying earns God’s well done.

There’s only one way to fail, and that’s by not trying! Get off the pity pot. Get up and get back in the fight! TRY!!!!!!!

Be blessed.