“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” (Prov. 24:16). Have you ever failed? How did it feel? What did you learn? Someone asked a wise businessman how he was able to make such good decisions. He replied, “By making bad decisions.” Failure helps you find new ways to approach old problems. Let’s learn from one of the greatest failures of all time? (Snopes.com) In 1809 he was born into poverty, and was faced with defeat and failure throughout his life. Here is a sketch of his many failures…1816: Family forced out of home. 1818: Mother died. 1823: Had to work and help support family. 1831: Failed in business. 1832: Ran for state legislature – lost. 1832: Lost his job. 1832: Tried law school but couldn’t get in. 1833: Borrowed money to begin a business that became bankrupt. 1883: Spent 17 years paying off the debt. 1835: Engaged to be married. Sweetheart died. Heart was broken. 1836: Had nervous breakdown – in bed for six months. 1838: Sought to be speaker of state legislature – lost. 1840: Sought to become elector – lost. 1843: Ran for Congress – lost. 1846: Ran for Congress again – finally won. 1848: Ran for re-election to Congress – lost again. 1849 Sought job of land officer – rejected. 1854: Ran for Senate – lost. 1856: Sought Vice President – got less than 100 votes. 1858: Ran for Senate again – again lost. 1860: Elected president of the United States. Who is he? Abraham Lincoln!
FAILURE! – I THINK NOT!
Abraham Lincoln failed at least 20 times, but he got up the 21st time to become one of the greatest presidents in our history. Paul Harvey often said, “If you fall seven times and get up eight you will not fail.” So what is a failure? A failure is not someone who fails, but someone who quits. Learn that failure is not finale. Quitters never win and winners never quit. A reporter asked Thomas Edison how it felt to fail 1,000 times, he replied: “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention of 1,000 steps. I found 999 things that did not work” (brainyquote.com).
You have the promise that you will reap if you faint not (Gal.6:9). Faint means to lose heart. Don’t lose heart – find hope. It is not what happens to you but in you that makes the difference. Greatness is not determined by what it takes to start you, but what it takes to stop you. So when you fall, get up, and keep getting up. Don’t stop, don’t quit, don’t give-up! Don’t give in and you will win. Remember: A failure is not someone who fails, but someone who quits. So when you fall, ask yourself “Am I a failure?” Then get up, start again, and loudly say, “I THINK NOT!”
Let me encourage you to share this special article with others – TC
