Quitting and moving on to the next thing are hard for me. I will do everything I can so I don’t feel like a quitter. I will scurry around and come up with new ideas to help, but sometimes it just isn’t enough. I am learning that that is OK. Everything I do is not a success.
When I recently thought about laying something down, God brought me something better. It wasn’t because of anything I did, but because I listened and knew it was right. God is good. He knows what I need much better than I do. He always comes through!
If I looked at the list of things that haven’t worked for me, it would be long. It would be longer than the list of what HAS worked, that’s for sure. It seems like the longer I live, the less likely I am to hold onto something that isn’t working just because I don’t want to let go. I am also less likely to hold on to something less than out of fear of the future. No matter what, I am going to be good. I won’t always be comfortable, but I have peace about it.
My future lies in God’s hands, and that is the way it has always been. I used to trick myself into thinking it was all in my control. The hard work I put in is definitely in my control, but the outcome isn’t. I am learning that if God wants me to go another direction, He will point me there. The trick is learning to decipher if it is truly what He wants, or if I am just tired of the effort. (I guess it can be both!)
One thing I have learned is that I can’t let my pride get in the way when it is time to move on. It isn’t failure if I gave it my all, but it is if I refuse to see that the end is here. That is a far worse turn: to miss out on where I should be because I was too stubborn to change. Besides, I would much rather be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading than be considered “successful” by the world!
When we look back at our lives, I think we are going to see success and failures in a very different way than we do now. We will see how the times we thought were failures were really just times that led us to do the same job better or led us down a different path. When we look at it that way, it becomes a success. I don’t know about you, but I pray I am always pliable and allow myself to be redirected. If God wants me on a different path, that is where I want to be!
The winner of the book, Love, Skip, Jump is Lisa! Congratulations, Lisa!
strainme 
Sarah,
Perfect words for me you’ve written – when we look at failures, they really are a success because God has shown us something or moved us forward that we can only see in retrospect. Following where he leads us every single day is the only way to be sure we’re on the right path — and yes, please redirect as needed! xo
Sometimes the only way for us to notice the wrong path we are on is for a “failure.” We need it as much as we need success!
You’ve got a great attitude and perspective, Sarah. I’ve been reminded throughout my life how very important failures are to my ultimate success. I learn so much more in them than I do in the moments when everything is going my way. God is the great Redeemer as well, so failures are transformed into His masterpieces! Thanks for this reminder. Great words of wisdom!
We really do learn more through failure than success. Thank you for coming by!
“Quitting” is so hard – it does feel like failure. I just set something down – for the second time that I tried to pick up again. I caught myself. Familiarity feels comfortable – but God’s really turned things upside down for me this year, spun me around and set me on a very different path. It’s like being in an empty room and being told I cannot use the same decorating ideas I’ve used before. However, I believe every failure is a stepping stone for greater success! Thank you for your encouraging post to nudge me along in this awkward liberation time!
We are always told not to quit, but sometimes that is how something better comes around. I am so glad you caught yourself this time! 🙂
yeah … failures, rough patches, difficult situations can lead us to much better places and deeper wisdom if we ask God to intervene. thanks, sarah …
Much better places and deeper wisdom. See, it is something we should want! 🙂