Christ… emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself… Therefore God has highly exalted him. Philippians 2:7-9

How can we sort out our motives and learn to make weakness a source of creativity? First, ask honestly in your prayer, ‘What is my desire? What do I think I need in addition to the Lord to be “fulfilled”? Why do I need those things?’ Then, having written down the answers to these questions, talk them over with a trusted friend or spiritual director.

When things don’t work out the way you had hoped, don’t berate yourself (‘I’m a failure’). Rather analyse the situation, and believe it is possible to try your best and still have some factors beyond your control. Don’t blame others (particularly parents or spouse) for failure: be mature enough to take responsibility for yourself. Don’t nurture resentment or be too cynical: they are prime causes of stress, according to the experts.

Above all, as Winston Churchill told a boys’ school assembly, ‘Never, ever, ever, ever give up!’ Didn’t Edison experience 14,000 ‘failures’ before he perfected the first light bulb?

So, Lord, I need reminding today that most of your great people in the Bible failed, but came back stronger and more useful afterwards: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, Jonah, Peter, John Mark, Paul… Probably that’s because their egos got in the way too, and the process of risking and failing and being humbled is needed before we can be of much use to you or others. Amen

Rowland Croucher <
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