Sometimes you need to see a phrase, write it out, stick it on the fridge and repeat it a few times over. Nick Vujicic has got one of those Failure is Never Final. He posted some wise advice on his Facebook page…
What an amazing guy. God has equipped him with extraordinary ability not to run and jump and throw, but to be positive, speak encouragement and live with joy….under super difficult circumstances.
God can and does do more than we could ever ask or imagine in our lives.
The only issue is that it doesn’t look like it NOW. You can only see it years down the road. Maybe 2 years, maybe 5 or even 10 years does the truth of God’s abundant blessing and supernatural equipping in our lives become fully evident.
We look back and we are amazed at how far we have come. And when that happens, we have to quote ALL of Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
I think when Nick looks back on his life, he will agree and he will know that his time here on earth in which he saw and experienced the power of God at work in him and through him, is not just for this generation, but will be for the generations to come.
It’s not about now.
But when you do look back and marvel at how far you have come and all that God has done, be sure to give all the glory to God because it is the power of Jesus Christ at work within us and for us.
I remember one little thing that happened when I was in my teens. I had just moved schools and felt lost and insecure. Not only was I in a new school, but not long after I joined the school, I failed the term and had to stay back a year. I felt so embarrassed and humiliated. Around about that time, I came to know the Lord and while my life changed and I felt His strength in my heart, I still faced daily struggles and some mocking by the girls in my class. As I went into my O-Level year, my heart was heavy. I felt I had no friends in my class and was not accepted. Some of the girls were very cruel and it was not easy.
But the Lord had a plan.
Enter Sandy Simpson!
Sandy was an English girl whose Mom and Stepdad had moved to Harare from the UK. Sandy came to my school and was put in my class. She was immediately EXTREMELY popular. Everyone wanted to be Sandy’s friend. She attracted people to her. She was vibrant and bubbly and had a wonderful personality. The teacher asked me, the most unpopular girl in the class, to show Sandy, the new most popular girl in the class, around. I obeyed, simply expecting to fulfil the task and then let her find her spot among the popular girls. But something unexpected happened. Sandy and I became best friends. Throughout my O-Level year, 1981, she and I hung out. She came to my home and I went to hers. We hung out at breaktime and spent time together over the weekends. God bought along a special friend who made me shine. I felt special.
Sandy was only there for one year. During that year, she went to church and also became a Christian. At the end of the year, for my 17th birthday she gave me a silver ring. It had my initials engraved on one side and on the other it had “Sandy 5/11/1981”. While I can’t find that ring today, I remember it well. Sandy left to return to the UK. She went via Rome and the last time I heard from her was a postcard from Rome. She came from a Catholic background and she made a light statement about being in the Catholic capital of the world.
In hindsight, I’m sorry I can’t find the ring, because it represents what God did. He sent Sandy.
I would love to know what happened to Sandy Simpson. Such a common name. 100s of them on Facebook and she’s probably married. But if I never see her again, I will always look back and remember that Failure is Never Final – God has a bigger plan and acknowledge that God did far more abundantly more than I could ever ask or think according to His power – to Him be all the glory.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂