The Blessing of Failure
August 23, 2012 - 5:00 am“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” — Micah 7:8
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. However, the basketball great has this to say: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life.”
Indeed, Jordan’s career has involved a lot of failings. However, Jordan is no failure. The quote doesn’t stop there. Jordan concludes with this: “I’ve failed over and over in my life . . . and that is why I succeed.”
A few thousand years earlier, the prophet Micah said, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” The Sages make a slight change to the verse in order to explain to us what Micah really meant: “Because I have fallen, I will rise. Because I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” Like the athlete, the prophet recognized that success doesn’t just follow failure; success comes because of our many failings.
This was a powerful message for the children of Israel as Micah warned that they were about to find themselves in very difficult times. It was inevitable. The nation had become irreparably corrupt. The nation that had been instructed to become a light unto the nations had become dark and murky.
Israel had a mission, and she utterly failed. But that was not the end of her story. Micah warned the enemies of Israel not to gloat. Because Israel’s failure would be the secret of her success.
Many years of exile followed. Part of Israel returned to her homeland only to be exiled once more. Thousands of years of persecution and oppression dominated the nation’s experience. She would fall many times over and remain in darkness for many years.
Yet, in those difficult moments, she would find God. In the clutches of evil, she would understand goodness. Exile was not just a punishment for Israel; it was her education. Israel emerged stronger, better, and ready to fulfill the role that is her destiny.
We live in a society that worships success, but hates failure. The problem is that you can’t have one without another. As the accomplished trumpet player Wynton Marsalis put it, “If you are not making mistakes, you are not trying.” You can’t reach success without travelling the road of failure.
With each mistake made, the question should be, “What can we learn from this failure?” and then use that knowledge to celebrate success.
Dear Rabbi, I just read the Blessing of Failure. I am in a very trying time in my life.
Which road to go, which major decision do I make. I am very perplexed and saddened
about my life and the outcome of it. I want to make wise Godly decisions from now on.
How do I know that I am? I have asked certain Preachers, and I still don’t know. I do know that after reading The Blessing of Failure that my life isn’t over yet, that God does have a plan for this mess that I am in. I am 50 years old, divorced(husband is deceased 3 years), and I still want to have my own children, my own biological children. I have two children in heaven. My heart is broken, and I have to make a change. Please help with any Godly wisdom and guidance. Thank You for the Blessing of Failure. I will keep trying even thou
it is very difficult, I am depressed because of all of this. Thank You, Margaret Mary
Dear Margaret Mary, Do not give up hope, Those who’s hope is in the Lord will win new strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagals, they shall run and not be weary, they will march on and never grow faint. Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans for good and not evil, Plans to give you hope and a future…Margaret Mary, I’ve been where you are and I can say that to cry out to Jesus is your first step, get into God’s word every day, read the psalms for encouragement and Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you…The enemy wants you to live in fear and depression…defy the evil one and grab hold of God’s word and read it, confess it and stand on it and He himself will reach out and uphold you with His Victorious Right Hand…Read His Word and be strengthened, God can do immeasurabley more than you can even Ask or Imagine, Glory be to God on High, He Loves YOU! Keep the faith, Pray without ceasing, call on the name of Jesus, get in the word, and put on the full Armour of God…He will NOT Fail You! He can and will Heal you, he will deliver you…He shall make a way where there is no way, he prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies, anoints your head with oil, my cup overflows…Come against the enemy in the name of Jesus and fight the good fight, when the sadness comes, go to God, get in the word and give it all to him. Be Blessed and Walk in the Light, Your sister in Christ, Kerry L.
Rabbi, a good message for all God’s people to perservere and not give up one’s goals, dreams and the fight to win God’s blessings. Shalom,
Thank-you Rabbi Ekstein. I feel this is Americas fate at this time and I believe our LORD wants to make the NATIONS know that HE IS LORD…and he will not share his Glory with another-Not even the United States. He may just harden the hearts of Americas leaders, (whomever IT/THEY might be.) The U.S. WILL NOT get the Glory for saving Israel. The LORD our God shall receive ALL the glory, praise, and honor. Just as he has said. “Then they will know that I AM the LORD, their God!!! Let Israel fear not I ask and pray in Jesus’ name, If indeed America does not step-up, because we know our dear LORD will!!! I wish America was 100% loyal to you Israel, but I pray for our LORDS will above all. Surely we can trust in our LORD. “And, all ISRAEL shall be saved!” HALLELUJAH. i LOVE YOU ISRAEL, AND ALL MY JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND I STAND WITH YOU INDEFINITELY!!! ALWAYS AND FOREVER!!!
TRULY AND MOST SINCERELY YOURS,
BONNIE:)