Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #12 — Don’t Give Up

Picture: Counsel #12 — Don’t Give Up CI 51.1

Nobody likes to fail. Whether it’s bombing a test you studied hard for or not getting the job you really wanted, failure hurts. Although failure is a hard pill to swallow, how a person recovers after failing is largely dependent on personal perspective. CI 51.2

Unlike what society says, failure is not the end! Actually, failing is a sign that there is room for growth and improvement, which should motivate rather than discourage us. Think of the person who trained for a race and didn’t finish first, or the person who was vulnerable with someone they liked and got rejected. None of those efforts were wasted; rather, they placed things in perspective. Failing offers so many lessons for the individual who doesn’t beat themselves up over what happened. Primarily, self-reflection and asking, “What did I learn from this?” can reveal whether you need to try harder, try again, or try something else entirely. The most important part is to seek God for discernment and wisdom — some people fail at things they were never purposed to do. God desires us to follow His plan for our lives and to do our very best. If we fail, we can trust He will help us do better the next time, teaching us whatever lessons we need to learn.^[49] CI 51.3

“Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalms 37:24 NIV CI 51.4

“It is not praiseworthy to talk of our weakness and discouragement.” Ellen White in In Heavenly Places, p. 122 CI 51.5

Reflect: What’s one failure you’ve experienced that helped you grow? CI 51.6