Time to rise up again if you fall, and fail forward

One weekend afternoon, my family and I were sitting on the beach watching my oldest daughter play beach volleyball with a classmate. Time and again, my daughter dove for the ball, landed forcefully on her stomach in the sand, returned the ball over the net and then quickly got up on her feet again in preparation for what her next move would be.

“Mom,” said my middle daughter, “sister would be a great, professional volleyball player.”

“Why do you think so, honey?” I questioned.

Confidently, she declared, “Because she is not afraid to fall.”

How do you treat a setback or failure? Do you quit? Or else, do you rise up and try again?

Life can knock us down permanently if we let it. If it’s not one thing, it is another. Yet, we must not be afraid of falling, for most success stories are from people who first experienced many setbacks and failures. The difference is that every time they failed or fell, they bounced back.

Maybe you are facing an unfair situation, another delay or perhaps, life isn’t going as planned. And now you feel like surrendering to defeat and giving up. I’m reminded about a great motivational teacher and writer Napoleon Hill, who made a careful study of successful individuals. This was his conclusion: “Most people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”

Most often, setbacks are chances to come back even stronger. You can rise above whatever is trying to push you down and claim the highest goals that you set for yourself. Dream on the largest scale possible, because anything is within your reach if you are willing to work for it and strive for it with constant effort. God has given you everything you need to fulfill your calling. Nothing can hold you back from making your dreams a blessed reality. Where you start doesn’t matter, it’s where you finish that counts. Trust God today; because right now, He is guiding your steps.

So, if life has knocked down, stand up on your feet and try again. Do not dwell on the obstacles before you. See beyond where you are now to where you desire to be. You must not allow words of defeat or negativity to come out of your mouth. Just keep on taking steps forward, expecting the best possible outcome. God created you to be resilient and brave, and you can overcome anything that you come up against.

My grandmother used to make cakes from scratch. One of my favorites was her delicious vanilla pound cake. In a large bowl, she would add ingredients such as; pure sugar, flour, sweet butter, fresh eggs, baking powder, a pinch of salt, vanilla and almond extract. Since she didn’t have a mixer, she’d stir it by hand.

Then, when everything was blended together perfectly, my grandmother put the mixture in a greased pan. She would place it in the 325 degree preheated oven for about 60 minutes and when the toothpick came out clean, the cake was done. When it was cool, she’d sprinkle the delectable cake with powdered sugar.

Now, here’s the key, if my grandmother didn’t add even one ingredient, the cake may have turned out poorly. She needed all of the ingredients to make the perfect, mouthwatering cake.

In the same way, God is using all of your past experiences, as my grandmother used her perfectly measured ingredients, to create something special in your life and in the lives of others. Accordingly, do not stop short of success. One of the most important things you can do if you get pushed down, is to get up again. This is how you build your resiliency for whatever life may bring your way. And, as you persevere onward, you may discover the hidden gift that the setback can bring to you.

Michelangelo once brought home a piece of marble. People teased him and said the marble was unattractive. But Michelangelo persisted and chipped away at the stone, replying, “There is a masterpiece trapped inside, and I must set it free.” Little by little, with tenacity of purpose, patience and care, that marble became the most famous statue of Moses.

Michelangelo proved what God did when He put each of us on this Earth. With the right attitude, each blow we receive from the difficulties and disappointments of life will reveal the masterpiece of God within.

Despite how impossible your situation appears to be, keep the faith and look for the hand of God. It is especially close by when you are down. And each morning wake up and say, “I trust you, Lord,” “You’re in control,” and “My life is in your Hands.” God will lift you up and you will rise again.

I believe there are great things in store for your life. Gaze out into the days and weeks ahead and go confidently forth. You’re going to fulfill the best plan that God has for you. So don’t give up. It is only a matter of time before God changes circumstances in your behalf. And you will live the extraordinary life you were created to live.