I grew up hearing this phrase: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” William Edward Hickson, an educator, is credited with popularizing this longer version:
'Tis a lesson you should heed: Try, try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, Try, try, try again.'
This saying reminds me of Thomas Alva Edison, who perfected the light bulb. (He actually did not invent the light bulb!) By the end of his life had 1,000 patents to his name. Was he a failure or success? It depends on your perspective. Here is one opinion I found:
‘Though the future inventor had revolutionary ideas that would change the course of the industries that hired and fired him, the young man had, in the words of his 1931 obituary in the New York Times, “achieved a reputation as the [telegraph] operator who couldn’t keep a job.”’
There was a period in my life when, like Edison, I was feeling frustrated with the job roles that I had started and then either quit or been let go. I was afraid of failure, and often tried to cover up my mistakes, but I knew that I was failing.
John C. Maxwell’s book Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success really helped me during this time. Two quotes that stood out to me are:
“We are all failures. At least, the best of us are.” J.M Barrie
“What makes the difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.” John C. Maxwell
How does God redeem our failures? Peter denied Christ three times. By most ordinary standards, he should have been fired from being a disciple, even though he was afraid for his life when he disowned Christ. But for Peter, his denials were not the end of the story.
Christ asked him three questions – actually the same question, three times – to get him back on track. “Do you love me?” Then he repeated the same instruction, also three times: “Feed my sheep!” To my way of thinking, this meant, “Get back to work doing what I’ve called you to do; you’re still employed.” Peter would continue to fail, but that was no excuse for giving up!
Jesus, thank you for not firing Peter! Please help me to get beyond my own failures as a disciple, and remind me that the question still remains, “Do you love me?” Then, in your Spirit’s power, show me how to “try, try, try again” to get back on track with what you’ve called me to do! Amen.
Today’s Challenge: Do you feel like a failure? Confess whatever is holding you back from following God’s will for your life. Ask God to help you see that you’re “still employed”!
Photo Credit: Sergey Shmidt