No one enjoys failing. Every task that we do, we want to succeed. But things do go wrong. Reasons for failures can fill a whole valley, but we won't get into that. The question I want to address concerns how we can rise above failure and make a comeback. Every person encounters problems and everyone has failed before. It is ridiculous to think that successful people never fail. Some failures are costly, some are destructive to relationships and others are embarassing. No one succeeds one hundred precent all the time. Great inventors fail more time than they succeed.

The life of King David is chequered with successes and failures. Known as the greatest king of Israel and a man after God's own heart, yet he was a man who committed many grave sins. His failures include the following; He lied to Achish king of Gath and used the refuge he was given a  base for launching brutal terrorists attacks on neighbouring villages claiming many innocent lives including women and children. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah, husband of Bethsheba. He failed to parent and discipline his sons and later lost his kingdom to one of his sons, Absalom. He had pride in his life and gave a command to take a census of the army which resulted in God's judgement that left  thousands dead.

David committed awful acts but yet somehow had the ability and the courage to pick up the broken pieces of his life and start over again. The amazing comeback story of David outlines many principles that we can learn from.
 

FAILURE IS NOT THE END
It is not terminal, not final. Life still goes on and opportunity will knock again. A person who fails should not consider himself a failure. No one is a failure unless he tells himself he is. Mistakes does not spell the end of life or the beginning of uselessness. Failure can be a start to better things. Someone said, "Failures are fertilisers to success." Valuable lessons can be learnt from the school of "hard knocks". Only those who repeat their mistakes have a big problem of not learning from their problems. Problems and setbacks have a way of making a person grow up fast and make an ordinary man, wise.

ADMIT YOUR FAILURES
David repented of his sins against God and man. Sin that is unconfessed is unforgiven. Sin suppressed will depress and oppress. Sin confessed will generate progress to success. We cannot move ahead of we do not deal with the sins of the past. It is like a man who tries to run a race with a chain and iron ball tied to his feet. We don't live in th past and we must be free from the past. We prevent God from blessing us if we choose to be dressed with stained garments. Also, guilt is a terrible master. Our past needs to be washed  in the blood of Christ. The loving God still forgives any repentant sinner and God   grants him a new beginning, heart and life. David wrote about his repentance in Psalms 51 and how God restored the joy of salvation to him and that His Holy Spirit continued to abide with David.The maturity to admit our wrong to the ones we have offended and to God is vital in rising up from defeat.

ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR FAILURES
Admitting our failures does not necessarily means the removal of the consequences of our actions. Forgiveness results in the punishment for the act being lifted but the consequences still remain. What we sow is what we reap. We don't repent to get an easy way out but to admit and turn from sin. To run away and hide will make one a fugitive from others and also from himself. Face the consequences with boldness. By doing this you will be on your way up because you have made a decision not to go down anymore. The valley ends here and every step you now take is upward. Accepting the consequences always firms up your will that you will never be found making the same mistakes again.

GOD LOVES YOU AND IS IN THE BUSINESS OF RESTORING AND HELPING YOU
David knew this full well. He found God to be a constant source of strength. When he felt weak, he would wait before God and his strength would be replenished. When he was fearful, he would hide in God as his refuge and strong tower. When he sinned, God''s mercy and forgiveness was extended to make him whole. When he was confused, God would be his peace. David could always rely on God to be with him. God always had time to listen and to encourage him.

God will do the same for you. Whatever your needs may be or how terribly you may have sinned, He is there, not as a judge to condemn you but as a friend to help you. So approach him just as you are. He is the God of both the mountains and the valleys, the good  times and the bad. He is in control. Learn to wait on God and look to Him. He has never failed before and He will never ever fail.

BUILD A NETWORK OF TRUE GENUINE FRIENDS
Jonathan and Samuel stood with David during his most discouraging moments. Their godly counsel directed to David to   keep his trust in God. They shared his burden by being there to listen with care and understanding. Their prayers supported him to the throne of God. When we are in the dumps, it is good to have true friends who will come alongside with us and minister to us. An old saying tells, " No man is an island ". God said that it was not good for man to be alone and that we should be our brothers' keeper.

Deserts are dangerous places to be alone. Deserts have devoured many heroes. That is why, hospitality to desert travellers are an integral part of the culture of Bedouins. They would provide food, shelter and friendship to the weary travellers. God provides for Moses, the family of Jethro to embrace him into their family with love, companionship and shelter during the desert years. Take time to cultivate in-depth friendships. Be a friend to others. Put in effort to build strong ties with others. Make sure that these strong ties are well abled to absorb and withstand the stretch and pull of ugly defeats in life.

A CALM AND STRONG SPIRIT
David had such a calm and strong spirit within him. Years of walking with God had taught him that God can never fail and that trusting and following God is all that he needs to do and God will take care of what he cannot do. At one time, David returned to his home in Ziglag with his fighting men and found that the entire village was plundered and all their families were taken captives. His men were so grieved that they wanted to vent out their anger and helplessness at David by killing him. David with God's help turned the dangerous situation around, won the confidence of his men back and motivated them to fight and rescue their families. And they did it.

When hit by failures he refused to dwell in his misery but focused on his recovery. He was not buried in his tragedy but was busy labouring on a strategy. He did not abandon himself to emotions and got into panic reactions but worked on a logical, practical plan of action. We need inner strength to forge ahead and break loose from the paralysis of faliure. We need to stay calm and engage our spirit to seek God and work our minds to creatively solve the problem.

David repented for his lies and acts of brutality and God enabled David to save his own life and rescue his family and all his men's families. His son who was born through the adulterous relationship with Bathsheda died but after restoration with God, he was bless with Solomon, the heir to the throne and a man of reknowned wisdom and fame. David regained his throne from Absalom's uprising. He rose from the foolish act of pride a humbled and said, " I will not sacrifice to the Lord, my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." He understood what true worship requires. Yes, David failed but he also rose up in victory.

Paul testified in 2 Cor. 8-10; " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Yes, whatever may come our way, including humiliating failures, God has made you and I to be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, the One who makes all things to work for good to them who love God. The next time you experience a failure, rise up in the strength of God and turn the failure into a major success. As Robert Schuller said, " Turn your scars into stars."

by Rev. Aris Siew