Fail
"My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.' Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 MSG
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26 ESV
Insight
My word for 2023 was "fail."
Yes. You read that right. Fail. That's not a typo. But was it a mistake? I'll let you decide.
The concept was formed on December 25, 2022, as I watched football with my family - this was back when Tom Brady was hunting for his eighth Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They were playing the Arizona Cardinals, who weren't exactly in Super Bowl contention. The Cardinals had only won 3 out of the past 14 games played that season and, due to injuries, were down to their 3rd string quarterback, Trace McSorley.
During the game, one of the game commentators referenced a conversation with Trace's father, Rick, asking how he felt about his son playing against the illustrious Tom Brady. The sentiment of Trace's father's response has stuck with me ever since. Rick proudly stated, "I know Trace is going to go out and do the best he can today because he is not afraid to fail."
Rick's response stopped me in my tracks. I don't think I had ever correlated failure with a positive emotion- my brain struggled to compute this idea. Rick's belief in his son- not dependent on his accomplishments or accolades but on his willingness to participate- took my breath away. Speaking of failure so casually, especially on such a public scale, initially struck me as cavalier…and then incredibly freeing. Suddenly, my mind was buzzing with questions.
What if the fear of failure didn't hold me back?
What if it didn't delay me from dreaming?
What if it didn't stop me from starting?
What if it didn't paralyze me from participating?
What if it didn't furlough me from finishing?
What might God do in me if I was not afraid to fail?
I wish this game had a fairytale ending. The Cardinals fought hard and led the entire second half until the Buccaneers kicked a field goal to force the game into overtime. And with the terrible structure of the NFL's overtime rules, one good drive down the field from Tom Brady was enough to secure a Tampa Bay win with a 40-yard field goal.
I was heartbroken for Trace McSorley. Beating Tom Brady as a 3rd string QB would be an incredible Christmas present. But even though the Cardinals didn't win that day, I'd argue that Trace McSorley had already won. There is a striking security that is found in the pride of a father. I could get teary-eyed if I think long enough about how Rick McSorley felt about his son. And in the same way, I'll get teary-eyed if I consider how God sees you and me.
King David must have felt the same way as he wrote the eighth Psalm. "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" Psalms 8:3-4
There is no striving when it comes to the love of God. There are no prerequisites, no hoops to jump through, and no proof is required to determine our worth. What if God isn't disappointed in our imperfections but glorified by our willingness to participate?
Failure is inevitable. The fear of failure breads complacency- it makes us anxiously avoid risks that could disrupt our creature comforts- and it discourages growth- which is naturally built through resistance. Ultimately, the fear of failure undermines the gift of experiencing, trusting, and learning. When I stop and consider my life, it's in my failures that God has shaped me the most.
So my question to you is, what if we had the courage to fail? To dream, start, participate, finish? What if we permitted ourselves to "get it wrong" and grow in God's grace?
After all, people who don't fail don't need Jesus.
Reflection
How can you cultivate the courage to step into vulnerability, permit yourself to make mistakes, and trust in the redemptive nature of God's grace in your journey of learning and growth?
Today at work, at school, at home, wherever you find yourself, you won't "get it all right." But what would it look like for you to do the best you can today because you're not afraid to fail?
Prayer
Father, in Your unconditional love, where no striving is required, I pray for the courage to embrace imperfection in my actual lived life. Would You help me to release the fear of failure that hinders growth and welcomes complacency? Grant me the strength to dream, start, participate, and finish, recognizing that my failures don't define me- You do. And as I go about my day, my flesh and my heart will fail, but may I find my strength, and my portion in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Zack Hamby, Communication Strategist, wrote today’s devotional.