I’ve got an impressive resume of failure. Really. It’s embarrassing to admit, but it’s true. At one time or another I’ve failed in every area of my life. Seriously. I’ve broken things I hoped to fix, dropped things I hoped to carry, and hurt people I hoped to help. I’ve had failure slam dunk some of my best ideas and trash my best efforts. I think maybe that’s why I avoid it so vigorously.

Should We Run From Failure?

But should I? Is failure really something to run away from? I’m sure the enemies of Jesus believed death would spell his FAILURE. Yet, listen to what Jesus said in reference to his impending death, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:25).

Following the Lord’s death the disciples were staggered by the sense that they had wasted over three years of their lives. All of their hopes disappeared like smoke in the wind. All of their preparation seemed wasted like a bad bet. Jesus had died and they were all failures in their own eyes and in the eyes of almost everyone else.

A Fundamental Rule of Life

They were so blind to a fundamental law of life that even when they heard that Jesus had been raised from the dead, some of them doubted. I don’t blame them. Yet, when they saw the risen Lord, everything changed. The seed that had died and been buried had come to life and would produce many more seeds.

Of course, I realize Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection. But he was also stating a principle of life that his death and resurrection illustrate. And it’s a principle of life that may bear on your current situation.

Failure is the seed of success

Once you embrace that reality you’ll discover it’s a limitless source of courage.