Dear Lyfteenites,
I vividly recall the day I tried out for the school debate team. I had my notes prepared, my speech rehearsed, and brand-new clothing that made me feel like a winner. I was certain I would crush it. But halfway through my argument, I froze. I could not recall the points I had practiced for weeks. My hands started to sweat, my voice cracked, and I walked away with a shaky "thank you." I did not even finish correctly.
The embarrassment really got to me. I wondered, "Maybe this is not for me. Perhaps I'm just not good enough.
Eventually, I came to understand that one of the problems about failure is that it signals "The End" while, in fact, it is just the beginning. Even though I did not see it yet, that embarrassing event was a precursor to growth rather than a dead end.
The Bible is full of people who have felt the pain of failure. Moses, for example, made a huge mistake when he lost his temper and killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15). He ran away, believing he had ruined his entire future. Even years later, God used him to save an entire nation. Failure did not disqualify Moses. It prepared him.
And you know what? Falling is not a sign of weakness; it shows you are trying. Proverbs 24:16 states, "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again." It does not say they have to stay down. It predicts they will rise again.
So, if you are sitting there with a shattered ego, wondering how to even move forward, here's what I discovered:
Feel it. Grieve it if necessary. But do not build a house there. Stand up, even if your legs tremble. Try again, even if your voice cracks. Show up, even if you are terrified.
Failure is not your identity. It is simply an event that is preparing you for something greater than you can fathom.
And the next time you step into your moment, you will not be unprepared. You will carry wisdom, resilience, and courage with you, which you can only gain by getting back up after a fall.
Keep rising,
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