The only carryover I had while on campus was in my year two. I was the pastor of my campus fellowship at that time. I didn’t know when these words jumped out of my mouth as I checked the result on the noticeboard; “thank You Lord for allowing it.” I had been equipped to handle failure without even knowing! I went ahead to retake the course and I passed it well to the glory of God.

Friend, if you don’t know how to handle failure you cannot be a candidate for success. The truth is, failure is not final, neither is it fatal. “Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again…”(Proverbs 24:16). Failure is not altogether the opposite of success. It is actually part of the success mix. If you have not learnt how to fail you may not know how to handle success well.

If you cannot handle the pressure of lack you cannot handle the pleasure of abundance. Let failure teach you the right lesson rather than debarring you from experiencing success. Failure is only an event, it is not a person. No matter what happens to you, never forget that you are never a failure! You might have failed in business, relationship/marriage or even in your walk with the Lord. This does not make you a failure.

Failure is not final, it is what you do with it that defines your end. The same stuff that stopped you from achieving your dreams and destiny is the very stuff that others took advantage of to soar higher in life and destiny. Perspective is what matters. You must see failure for what it is. Failure is an opportunity to learn what works and what does not work. It helps you to begin again more intelligently as it helps you to review your strategies and practises.

Failure can help you to develop your “shock absorber”. It can help you to develop emotional intelligence which would help you to relate well with life and people. You develop empathy as you understand what other people go through (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). It helps your sense of gratitude because sometimes, you would not appreciate success until you have tasted failure.

As you go into today, learn to handle failure successfully. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from pursuing your God-given dreams and destiny. Understand that there is nothing special about failure. It is not a sin or a taboo. It is only an opportunity for you to increase your chance and rate of success. Put the devil where he belongs as you tell him; “Do not rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8). Amen!

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria