Beautiful People, 

"The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure." ― John C. Maxwell.

 "I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that don't work." ― Thomas Edison.

Maxwell and Edison reframe our perception and response to failure. Within the secular literature on failure, there is a pivot in redefining failure as a crucial step to success. Look no further than to Giannis Antetokounmpo's impassioned speech after losing game five against the Miami Heat on April 26. After the loss, a reporter asked Giannis if he believed the season was a failure. Antetokounmpo's was, "There's no failure in sports. You know, there's good days, bad days." Here is a question for you: has your current season in life caused you to think you're a failure? Much like Antetokounmpo, expectations of success are thrust onto us internally or externally; however, how do we respond when we don't meet those expectations or goals? Is our perception of failure similar to Maxwell, Edison, and Antetokounmpo's? I want to add another voice to this paradigm shift on failure—Saint Paul. 

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8, ESV). 

At first glance, this verse has nothing to do with failure until you begin to parse what failure does to our identity. Failure reveals what we truly worship. The discouragement and disappointment associated with failure are birthed from our perception of value and worth. Failure reveals the foundation of our aspirations and, ultimately, the thing we love to worship: our internalized value system and god. Paul's solution to failure is deconstructing his value system and prioritization. Instead of looking to failure as a step to success, Paul frames failure as a beauty loss—a loss that enables him to gain a closer grasp of Christ. From a Christian perspective, failure becomes an opportunity to get closer to Christ. From this perspective, failure no longer defines our emotions, attitudes, and actions. Our failures in life are opportunities for growth in Christ. To gain Christ in both successes and failures reveals Christian maturity and joy. Whatever your day may hold, whether successes or failures, reframe each encounter as an opportunity to grow in Christ and to "know Him and the power of His resurrection" (Philippians 3:10, ESV).

Failure will not change your standing in Christ because life is not about failures and successes; it's about staying faithful to the one who has called you to eternal life. 

Have a great day.