One of the epic scenes depicting failure comes from the 1999 movie October Sky. The movie tells the story of Homer Hickam, a young man who grew up in the coal-mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. Inspired by Sputnik, he and some friends began developing amateur rockets to gain entry to the 1960 National Science Fair.
A series of launch attempts in quick succession becomes a sequence of failures with rocket after rocket exploding on the launch pad. Or in the air. Or even dangerously close to the boys. They desperately recalculate and reconfigure in search of a successful launch. But it eludes them.
Failure owns the era leading to despair. But failure becomes their tutor, not their identity. With the encouragement of key mentors, Homer perseveres and finally achieves success. Eventually they gain entry to the science fair, and even win two medals for their experiments (sure, it’s a spoiler. But seriously, this was 1999!).
Sure, it was toilsome for Homer to persevere in the face of unrelenting failure. It’s arguably far harder in ministry. Homer and his team faced the difficulties of detonated rockets; we might face the trauma of exploding churches. Homer faced the opposition of a disapproving dad; we might face the opposition of fellow leaders, congregants, or the opposition of people outside the church. Homer wrestled against the forces of tradition and expectation in his coal-mining town; we wrestle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Leaders, regardless of the journey you are on to use your gifts to glorify God, keep your eyes on these guideposts.
Guidepost # 1 – Opposition Attacks Hope
Paul knew what it was like to persevere in ministry while facing a myriad of difficult trials. In the description of his ministry sufferings, he lists experiences where he received thirty-nine lashes on five different occasions, three beatings with rods, being stoned and left for dead, being shipwrecked, constantly in danger, lacking food and sleep, the pressures of ministry, and more (2 Corinthians 11:24–33). He knew what it meant to be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down as he pursued the ministry to which God had called him (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
Perhaps you do too.
Now, I doubt that many reading this have been shipwrecked or received “forty lashes minus one.” But I suspect you have faced angry opposition. I know you’ve received hurtful emails that led you to wonder whether you should be in ministry. I am sure you’ve been abandoned by those you thought would be faithful ministry partners. I am sure that many of you have speculated on whether there would be another paycheck to support the family. Probably some of you have even dealt with the unexpected closure of a church or ministry. You read 2 Corinthians 11 and say, “Yep, I’m not Paul. But I certainly get it.”
Guidepost #2 – Perseverance Brings Renewal
Homer didn’t throw in the towel. Neither did Paul. he persevered as he looked beyond the confines of present suffering and gazed upon the grandeur of the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
Paul persevered with hope set on the future reward, the eternal weight of glory — life in God’s presence and the affirmation and rewards awaiting him in heaven for faithful ministry here.
Seeming failure will often plague our steps in this life. But we can persevere in confidence knowing that our field of labor is from God (2 Corinthians 4:1), is prepared by him (Ephesians 2:10), and we are empowered by him (Philippians 2:13).
Leaders, don’t lose heart when setbacks come. Don’t let a rocket exploding on the launchpad ground your motivation for the future. Grieve your loss. Confess your self pity. Embrace the call to suffer. Resist the impulse to throw in the towel. Set your hope on the eternal God who called you to himself and promised to accomplish his purposes in and through you. Then get up, go out and build another rocket.
Tenacious Tuesday Question
What failures have you experienced recently? How did you respond and what beliefs about God does that response reveal? Where do you need to reinsert God and his call upon your life in that picture? In what practical ways can you look up and look forward right now?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to have such firmly grounded hope in you that I do not lose heart when plans and expectations in life and ministry go sideways. Teach me to persevere and to say in hope with the psalmist, “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Photo by Unsplash on Brad Barmore
