Coming out of the cage of failure

This post is from Byron Niemi

Mark Batterson in chapter 6 comes out early on Page 118 and says, “Failure handled improperly can be devastating, but failaure handled properly is the best thing that can happen to us.” We use our God given freedom of choice to make many decisions each day concerning life. So when failure happens, what if I have a standard reply like, “okay God, I’m falling apart right now, but based on my past experience and the testimonies of many fellow believers, you will meet with me and somehow take this mess and put me back on Your life’s course.” This kind of response fits in with the importance of faith and our attitude in dealing with life.

In 1995 the morale in our department hit an all time low and I felt trapped with little chance of serving God in a meaningful way and in a position that didn’t even exist in the company. But in 2003 this new job posting came up that could only have been filled by me, but coming from God. I rejoiced and wept before Him. I later came to know and understand what this author writes about now and that my God, our God uses divine delays, divine detours and divine appointments to bring us into His divine plan. That time I waited, I also needed to mature and be prepared for such an abrupt change of service to God and my employer. My last 4 years before retiring, though trying at times, was to me an adventure only the Wild Goose of God could have orchestrated. And to think I had been a failure to God in my work.

We can beat ourselves up, tell God all the reasons we’re unfit to be anywhere near the front lines in His army, let the enemy rip us, isolate ourselves and wait for the end or we can allow God to say perhaps something like this, “your sins are forgiven, my righteousness is upon you, now draw close to me and I will make your life an adventure if you will just follow and learn of me. It’s your choice.”
Byron Niemi