Fail forward

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “A fresh start in a new year”

Our Bible verse for today: “Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.” Proverbs 24:16 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Fail forward”

The story goes that Thomas Edison was certain beyond a doubt that a glass bulb infused with electricity could emit light if it contained the right elements. But try and try again, he failed in his experiments to produce such a bulb. Over-and-over again he tried, and each time – nothing. But he believed in his dream and so he kept trying. Finally, after something like one thousand failed attempts, he hit upon the correct combination of elements and … the lightbulb was invented.

When questioned about his tenacity and his refusal to give-up Edison said that he had discovered one thousand ways not to make a lightbulb and then finally, he discovered the one way to make a lightbulb. All of his unsuccessful attempts were valuable learning experiences that led him to discovering the one way that did work. This reinforces the truth that learning from our failure is a crucial part of success.

Abraham Lincoln is another example of someone who persevered through numerous failures before he finally had success. He was fired from his job, defeated for a seat in the Illinois state legislature, went bankrupt in business, his fiancé died, he had a nervous breakdown, he was defeated for a seat in U.S. House of Representatives, he was defeated in an election for the U.S. Senate, he was defeated in his bid to be Vice-President, and then he won election as President of the United State and ultimately became perhaps our greatest President ever.

Failure is often a crucial element in success. We must be willing to try, try, and then to try again. That’s true regarding inventing a lightbulb or winning an election, and it’s also true with respect to successfully accomplishing our New Years resolutions. If you have stumbled in your resolution to eat better and exercise more, don’t quit. Just start again tomorrow. Likewise, if you have missed your quiet time with God for several days running, start fresh today.

One of the best books I have ever read on this matter of picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and getting back in the saddle after you have failed, is John Maxwell’s great little book “Failing Forward.” It’s all about the very thing we have been thinking about this morning, and the concept applies to all of life. When you fail, make sure you use your failure to move you forward.

Success at anything is often a series of starts and stops, good intentions and failures, followed by new resolve and another attempt. Don’t give up. The application of Proverbs 24:16 for us is that if you did prayerfully develop your resolutions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (as we discussed), then you are on a mission from God to accomplish them and He will help you to do so.

I encourage you, even if you have tried and failed, try again. Keep at it. Don’t give up.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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