Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Clovis G. Chappell
Your Own Worst Enemy
We can easily be our own worst enemy when it comes to taking risks for the kingdom. I would rather, as Mr. Chappell says, fail a thousand times than to never try at all because if someone doesn’t even try, then they’re already defeated in their own mind. They lose the chance to succeed because with each passing failure, they are inching closer and closer to achieving success. When one lady was swimming across the English Channel once, she just couldn’t do it anymore and finally crawled up into the boat and gave up. Just seconds after this, she heard the sounds of a bell, and as she peered through the dense fog, she realized that if she had swam only about one more mile, she would’ve made it.
No Risks, No Rewards
No one ever received great rewards without first taking a great risk because great rewards only come from great risks. Solomon described risk like this: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Eccl. 11:1). Jesus said, “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42). Risks and rewards come in small and big packages.
What You Missed
Can you imagine if people never took risks? Think what they might miss. Many people who never risk anything for fear of failure miss out on so much, even if it’s learning from defeat. But think about what really big things they might miss in their lives. That means there are many older people today who won’t get a second chance, and they may be living with some regret for never pursuing something they really wanted to do but never took the risk to do it (whatever it might be). However, it’s never too late. As long as you’re drawing a breath, God is not finished using you yet.
Conclusion
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you didn’t try some things that you really wanted to try. God is still on His throne. You likely have many blessings to count. And God can even turn our bad decisions into our best (Rom. 8:28). The most tragic thing isn’t trying a thousand times and failing but not even trying at all. That’s because you’re defeated before you even begin. So think about this: It is better to make a thousand failures than to be too cowardly to ever undertake anything.
