M.’s heart picked up its pace as her eyes took in the return address. Would this letter contain news to celebrate? It was her birthday—her fortieth. What could be more perfect than to receive the announcement she longed to read? M. tore open the envelope.
“Thank you for your recent manuscript submission. Regretfully
it does not coincide with our current publishing objectives…”
This was not the first rejection letter M. had received. In spite of early triumphs as an author, she had not written a successful book in a decade. This letter, on this day, brought tears to her eyes, and M. considered giving up.
“But I’m a writer,” she wrote in her journal. “That’s who I am, even if I’m never published again.”
M. began work on another book only to have it rejected nearly thirty times. Finally it sold. The book? A Wrinkle in Time, a beloved book of millions. And for it, Madeleine L’Engle was awarded the Newbery Medal for Children’s Literature in 1962 (1).
Surely Mrs. L’Engle would be among those to tell us: Failure is a reality of everyone’s life. Even the most successful people have failed at one time or another.
But when we’re drowning in the despair of failure, we tend to forget its universality.
We also forget:
1. God always makes good use of failure—to develop maturity, wisdom, and humility.
Think of Peter, who denied Jesus three times as his Messiah was being interrogated by the chief priests and Sanhedrin (Matthew 26). Yet Peter became the rock on which Christ built his church (Matthew 16:18).
2. Our failures may well be part of God’s bigger purpose.
General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate army during the Civil War, wrote this in 1869:
(“We failed, but in the good providence of God
apparent failure often proves a blessing.”)
Even out of the horrific devastation of that war, God did bring blessing. Among them: The Red Cross was founded, a number of hospitals were established, and in the decades that followed, America rose from the ashes stronger than ever.
3, The lack of results does not necessarily indicate failure.
‘Ever hear of Edward Kimball? I hadn’t—until recently. Edward once introduced a young shoe salesman to Jesus. That salesman grew in faith by leaps and bounds, and strongly desired that others know the One who changed his life so dramatically. The salsman’s name: Dwight L. Moody—evangelist extraordinaire and founder of Moody Bible Institute.
By comparison to Moody’s stellar accomplishments and resulting fame within the Christian community, Mr. Kimball seems a nobody. But the ripple effect that still reaches around the world today through Moody (2) can be traced back to Kimball.
Most of us will never know the ripple effect emanating from our lives until we reach heaven. It’s probably just as well. What we don’t know can’t go to our heads.
4. True success is not financial security, great respect from throngs of people, or high rank in the public arena. “True success is growing intimacy with God” (3).
My eyes are often distracted by the wrong prize.
(“Our greatest fear should not be of failure
but of succeeding at something
that doesn’t really matter.”
–D. L. Moody)
Failure is actually a blessing. God uses it to:
- a) foster spiritual growth,
- b) accomplish his purpose,
- c) guide us into greater intimacy with him, and
- d) redirect our focus.
Oh, God, help me to embrace failure and the blessed lessons it brings!
Notes:
(1) Information about Madeleine L’Engle from http://www.neh.gov.
(2) Thousands of graduates from Moody Bible Institute have served God as pastors, missionaries, and more over the 130 years since its founding in 1886. Millions more have been impacted by Moody Radio and Moody Publishing.
(3) J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 1973, p. 314.
Art & photo credits: www.savannahnow.com; http://www.wikipedia.org; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.azquotes.com; http://www.likesuccess.com; http://www.quotesgram.com.
From the Inside Out 
Nancy, thank you for encouraging us with this inspiring post. I agree that a no is not failure if it draws us closer to God.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thank you, Wendy. Sometimes we need reassurance, don’t we.
Yes, we sure do. 🙂
Nancy, it is so nice to be reminded of a name from my past–Dwight L. Moody.
Also wanted to let you know that the manuscript for Birds 2 is in the hands of
the publisher (Create Space) and should be listed in three days. W e are already placing orders. This one is exciting and contains many of the stories which you helped critique. You are still with us in thought and pleasant memories and we miss you terribly. Love to you and Steve.
Thank you, Ruth, for your uplifting words. I, too, treasure the memories of meetings and lunches with my P.W. friends, and miss the wonderful camaraderie. Congratulations on completing Birds 2 — a grand accomplishment! I’m curious about your connection to D. L. Moody. You’ll have to share that sometime!
I appreciate this one, Nancy. I especially identify with the writer in your intro. I’m longing for the day when my focus is not on stuff like being published, but simply staying in God’s company.
Amen, Colleen, amen! We can encourage each other to that end!
Love this blog. God looks down at us with HIS insight that we cannot see, and wiggles our life around the bumps and curves. We only know what we want to have happen, not even close to what is in store, in HIS plan for us. One of my prayers for a dear loved one, is to someday land the contract on his writing, that he wants and needs, but even greater that God takes ahold of his heart and changes his life for the better..Right now, it is all failure.
Praise God this post ministered to your heart, Cindy! ‘Appreciated your insight about the bumps and curves of life that we can’t see around, but God can. Beyond those hills and turns is his plan for tomorrow. And he uses those twists and turns to prepare us for that plan. Perhaps that is what God is orchestrating for your dear loved one. (See Ezekiel 11:19-20 for very encouraging promises as we pray for loved ones who are struggling.) Love to you, dear friend!
Thanks for the encouraging word this morning. That Moody quote lingers with me. Makes you step back and reflect doesn’t it?
It sure does! Moody’s words definitely help me refocus — away from the temporal and trivial and onto what matters: my relationship with Jesus and the growing intimacy I desire. So glad you found encouragement here, Jean, just as I always find encouragement at your blog. Praise God for mutual uplift!
Thank you for the encouragement, Nancy.
You’re welcome, Carol. Praise God for his inspiration!
That story of Madeline L’Engle’s story rejection always gives me such hope! Thank you for the other encouraging stories, Nancy, as always 🙂
I didn’t know until recently that Ms. L’Engle was among those who struggled to receive notice of a publisher. So glad I could offer you a few dollops of hope with these stories, Jody!
So very uplifting, Nancy! Many times inventions have been born out of failure to achieve one thing…but ‘accidentally’ something else entirely has been invented…even more useful and better than the original intention. My own perceived failure to remain single instead of being married and having my own family has allowed me to be used by the Lord in other and better ways to help my brother’s children and grandchildren. Praise the Lord for His seeing the ‘big picture’ and not giving up on my disappointments. Also wanted to tell you that I frequently use your description of an event as a ‘God-incident’ instead of ‘coincident’. It has blessed me so.
Thank you, Cheri. Indeed, God has used you in countless ways over the years as you’ve loved on, guided, and mentored your nieces and nephews. ‘So glad you’ve found the term, “God-incident” a blessing!
I don’t feel that I am in the same ballpark as most Authors. I have written Poetry at Sea when I was in the Navy and was always on the list of those that said Im gonna write a book some day. But when the Lord spoke to me and certain human unexplainable things happened in my life for which I do chalk up to the Lord, I intently started not only Praying, (which I will always consider conversation through the Holy Spirit), but listening to the whispers to me and wrote uncontrollably everything I was told by the Holy Spirit. I was so enthused by what he gave me to write I knew there had to be a purpose for all this Thanks to the Lord a publisher contacted me over questions of a book via the Lord once again shows up therefore Xlibris published “His” book “GODS POSTS”. The Holy Spirit even made me look back at my past experience in Painting and said you need to Paint the story as well and so I painted the front and the back covers as well.
When you are in doubt you should read this:
I recently heard the story of Thomas Edison in a video by Chuck Swindoll ::::
When Thomas Edison was interviewed by a young reporter who boldly asked Mr. Edison if he felt like a failure and if he thought he should just give up by now. Perplexed, Edison replied, “Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp.” And shortly after that, and over 10,000 attempts, Edison invented the light bulb.
How will we handle our failures? Its Gods Opportune moments like these that gives us his perfect work for we are all in the body of Christ
YFICA Russ
I love the fact you call the book “His” book. You have a humble, gracious heart, Russ! As for the story about Edison: He was the epitome of perseverance, wasn’t he! Also appreciate your observation about failures providing opportunities for God to do his perfect work. AMEN!
God never hides the fact that his followeres in the Bible had failed many times, but God is always there to pick up the pieces and make it so we can endure the next time. I honestly feel stronger if I have failed the first time because I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’ll know next time not to commit the same failures I did the first time. I also think that failure is the path to success.
Thank you, Big Data, for your thoughtful observations. Praise God he gave us the whole story on many of his followers, including their failures, just as you’ve said. Such an encouragement! As Eugene Peterson noted in RUN WITH THE HORSES: God seemed intent to demonstrate that the great significant figures of the Bible were fashioned from the same clay as the rest of us (pp. 15-16). Failure is no reason to stop walking in faith. God doesn’t give up on us and neither should we!