1. Success is the process of arriving, not victory.
Instant gratification often causes the casual athlete, fan or participant to give up before seeing the fruits of their labor. Christian apologist Clive Staples Lewis defines success as the process of arriving in his book Mere Christianity. Unfortunately, a spirit of perfection leads many to fail to comprehend this mindset. Thus, every year individuals stop pursuing their dreams, end a career prematurely or quit their jobs due to a lack of satisfaction.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established, Proverbs 16:3.
2. Failure is a blue print for knowing what does not work.
In 1994, my fiance gave me her blessing to pursue professional golf in 1995. I spent the first three months playing on the Tommy Armour Tour, a mini-tour based in Florida. The day before my first tournament, I completely changed my swing. After three humbling tournaments, I made my way up north to Ohio before participating in Qualifying School on Vancouver Island for the Canadian P.G.A. tour. After being even par after 4 holes, I fell apart missing the 36 hole cut. Looking back, if I would have waited one year before turning professional, I would have had a better chance. Yet, for now, I know what not to do.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, Psalm 73:26.
3. Humility strips away pride, prompting hearts to trust in God, not self.
One of the hardest things to determine in life is knowing when to say when. For me, it didn’t take long for me to realize I didn’t belong on the P.G.A. tour. Facing failure tends to strip away arrogance, especially when you come to the reality “I can’t do this.” However, today I struggle with determining if I have done everything possible in power to ensure success. In the past, when I’ve allowed frustration to dictate my decision making, I quit before the timing was right. Therefore, before you make a rash decision in the future, make sure you trust in the Lord’s understanding instead of yourself.
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight, Proverbs 3:6.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 