“Failure is closely related to risk, which is closely related to success.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Location 1534). Kindle Edition.

That is one of the main reasons why we don’t risk. Most of us don’t see failure as a friend but our enemy. But those who have made it their friend are not afraid to risk.

So much of our life is controlled by our perspective. Take for example our view of failure. If it is viewed as your enemy you want to stay as far away from it as you can. Some people have a failed relationship and it hurt them deeply so they are never going to get in another situation where they can be hurt again. They are going to play it safe and keep from getting close to people. No way are they going to step out and risk that happening again so they live a lonely safe existence.

Another person sees the failed relationship as an opportunity to learn. They see where they went wrong and they strive to change, to grow. The failure was a learning opportunity for them so they head into a new relationship with new insight. It doesn’t stop them; it prods them to risk again and to not play it safe.

I risk rejection every day. I have felt it many times but I don’t let it stop me. I reach out to people every day that I don’t know because I want to connect with them. It doesn’t always work but I don’t stop and I have so many friends that add to my life and I add to them.

I was just thinking. If I would have stopped with the first relational failure I had I would never have married Margaret. The pain from one of my relationships did slow me down a bit but it slowed me down long enough for me to find Margaret and ask her to marry me. It was the best risk that I ever made. Has it been a pain free relationship? No but it has been worth all that we have put into it. Pain should not stop you it’s there to grow you, to make you.

So what is holding you back from risking?

Comments

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle? Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life. It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed. Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life. Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you. You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good. Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident. In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose. In other words you are not an accident. I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth. In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man. And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ” Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like? Like that characteristic is a curse or something. Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God. Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog