Overcoming Failure

Matthew 26:69-75, Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came 

to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Here is a classic example of failure...

What is Failure? Is it permanent? Is there no second chance? Answer this question for yourself: A person is a failure when…a mistake is made / a person quits / someone says he/she is…

Where are you in the answer to that question? Are you a failure  because you've made countless mistakes? Are you a failure because you've quit certain things? Are you a failure because someone told you that you were/are?

Proverbs 23: 7 - 'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.'

The truth is, all 3 of these answers can be true; it depends on you and what you're willing to accept as failure. Listen, failure should be a teacher, not an undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is nothing more than a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.

A successful person is big enough to admit his/her mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

- Pastor Melrose