2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Gratitude Day 947

Raise your hand if you are comfortable with failure.

While I can’t see whether or not you actually raised your hand, I’m going to wager that most of us did not shoot our arm quickly into the air.

Failure is interesting. Honestly, it’s a fact of life. We are all going to fail at some point. No one has a perfect record. Mind you, even Jesus Christ himself, the Son of God, failed as his final act on earth was dying on a cross. It wasn’t exactly his choice for his earthly life to end this way. He willingly accepted this role for a variety of reasons, including becoming the sacrificial lamb for all of humanity. I wonder, though, if his example might also grant everyone else the idea that failure really is acceptable and OK.

Last week, Hubby Rick and I traveled to the Springfield, IL area with a group of people on a mission trip. We helped at a mission center that collects all different items needed in the U.S. and around the world to assist those in need. It was a great opportunity to give back. Hubby Rick and I built student desks. In the woodshop where we worked, pictures hang on the walls, reminding us of where these desks might end up. It was humbling to see three and four kids seated at these little desks that most U.S. students would complain about.

The mission work was great. We were part of a group of youth and adults that become our new friends. Being in Springfield, IL, we also took in several of the Abraham Lincoln sites. Lincoln and his family lived in Springfield at the time he was elected as the sixteenth president of the United States. It’s where he practiced law, some of his children were born and where his body was interned after his unfortunate death.

There is a fantastic Abraham Lincoln Museum in downtown Springfield. It starts at the beginning of his life and portrays how he was born in a small log cabin in Kentucky. He taught himself how to read and write. After his mother died when he was 9, Lincoln worked to help support his family. Eventually, he made it to Illinois and settled in a small village called New Salem outside of Springfield. He moved into Springfield, a city of about 2,500 people, when he became a lawyer.

There are many interesting facets of Abraham Lincoln’s life. Here’s what I want to share today: he failed many times throughout his life. While in New Salem, he became a storekeeper. Unfortunately, he was more interested in telling stories than making money at the shop. He ran for state and national elected positions several times and did not get elected. Yet, he continued to pursue elected office. Probably his most famous failed election was when he ran against Stephen Douglas. The United States was trying to figure out how to handle the slavery issue. Lincoln debated Douglas, which drew national attention. Even though Lincoln lost the election, in this debate, Lincoln advocated for the country to remain unified. This led to him becoming the Republican candidate for president.

While president, Lincoln struggled. After he won the election but before he was sworn into office, the southern states began to leave the union and the Confederacy was established. During the early years of the Civil War, the northern military struggled. While in office, Abraham and Mary’s son Willie died. Abraham personally wrote a document called the Emancipation Proclamation which would free slaves in the Confederacy if passed. When he presented it to his Cabinet, there was little support. Eventually, Congress approved it and it became law. I cannot imagine the anxiety and stress this whole process brought to Lincoln, who was still grieving the loss of Willie.

When we think of Abraham Lincoln, often, we think of his successes. What stood out to me this past week was not his successes, but his ability to embrace failure. To keep going even when it didn’t always make sense. For Lincoln, maintaining unity within the U.S. was his most important priority. If preserving unity meant sometimes failing, he accepted this. Somehow, he dug deep and kept going, even when it felt like the world was collapsing around him.

Think of your response to failure. Do you give up when the going gets tough? When the tunnel of life feels and seems like it is more than you can handle, do you quit . . . or do you keep putting one foot in front of the other? Does failure have the last word or do you accept that failure is simply part of the process?

The Apostle Paul addressed failure in one of his letters. Even though he experienced failure in many different ways, eh felt that his weaknesses brought him strength. If he weaknesses directed himself and others back to Christ, then they were worth it, he says.

How different this view of failure is than what we most often associate with failure today. Is this view the one Lincoln embraced? I cannot say but it does appear that at times, Abe viewed his weaknesses as a strength, as difficult as they were.

There are about 18,000 books written about Abraham Lincoln. Only one other person has more books written about him: Jesus Christ. There is much to learn from both of these men. Let me be clear: Abraham Lincoln isn’t the Son of God. Yet most of us would agree it is this man’s commitment and determination to hold a country together that means we have a united country today.

Being able to admit our failures, our weaknesses and our shortcomings is so important. When we do, it gives permission for others to do so as well. Yet, admitting failure also helps us discover true strength in God. As intimidating as failure may feel, accepting and acknowledging it only draws us closer to God. And this, my friends, is what servant leadership is about.  

For wonderful examples of how failure makes us stronger, I am thankful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – While we so often want to hide and run away from our failures, thank you for these special examples of how failure can make us stronger in You. Help us embrace our failures and see them as opportunities to draw closer to You. Help me be OK with failure. Amen.

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