you are more than your failure

Failure is not final

Luke 22:31–34 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

you are more than your failure: this is the theme of the next section in the book 3 Big questions- what our children want to know. We chose this to hopefully help us navigate these questions and others with our family as we disciple them. according to Deuteronomy 6 we are the main source of discipleship for our family.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will probably see we struggle with the concept of failure. Personal, professional, public failure places us in a peculiar predicament that warrants a response.

True story: I was heartbroken when I discovered that the fate of Elvis Presley. Many of you already knew; but I was unaware until I watched The movie Elvis of how his life faded away. Its a sad story. In the movie there is a point in time were Elvis is on the runway in his limo with Priscila. She’s telling him how she loves him and wants him to get some help. He’s going nonstop, taking medications and ‘Medications” and she’s worried.

Elvis response is alarming; he says “I will be 50 and no one will know who I am. I haven’t done anything memorable.” Out everything Elvis was and did for music and movies, he saw his career in that moment as a failure. He would not be remembered.

what a sad place to be; yet many times we wrestle with this. Our kids will grow up trying to live in the shadows of their parents and because of expectations: failure is at the front of their minds.

Pew research has much to say about failure:

military vets-always critical of how each presidential administration handles conflict

The ballon thing was an easy one, i thought but. . . .

National identity- how the world views our country.

Parenting: How bad are we doing?

News Media

our feelings towards and about failure are all around.

How do we handle failure?

What does failure say about us?

Tell the historical aspect of Peter’s failure:

Peter’s bravado- “if they all fall away i will not. . . Mane you got me messed up, I’m ride or die!”

peter follows at a distance.. he sees everything, gets afraid and like Jesus told him, he denied.

Fast forward to how Jesus redeems his failure and uses it for His glory:

John 21-feed my sheep, tend my lambs, feed my sheep!

what could have been an ultimate life changing/altering situation. . . God redeems and restores.

quotes on failure

"It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default." ― J.K. Rowling

"Failure is another stepping stone to greatness." ― Oprah Winfrey

"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." ― Michael Jordan

"Children have a lesson adults should learn, to not be ashamed of failing, but to get up and try again. Most of us adults are so afraid, so cautious, so 'safe,' and therefore so shrinking and rigid and afraid that it is why so many humans fail. Most middle-aged adults have resigned themselves to failure." ― Malcolm X