Just thought I'd share a few thoughts from this weekend's message on the cage of failure. We're now sending out an email version of my weekend messages. If you want a free subscription you can sign-up here.
In 1809, he was born into poverty—a one-room log cabin 16 x 18 feet. In 1816, his family was evicted from their home and he had to work to support them. In 1818, his mother died. In 1831, he failed in business. In 1832, he ran for the state legislature and lost. In 1832, he also lost his job & wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in. In 1833, he borrowed money to start a business and was bankrupt by the end of the year. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off the debt. In 1835, he was engaged to be married but his sweetheart died and his heart was broken. In 1836, he had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months. In 1843, he ran for congress and lost. In 1849, he sought the job of land officer in his home state and was rejected. In 1854. he ran for the Senate and lost. In 1856, he sought the vice-presidential nomination at his party’s national convention and got less than 100 votes. In 1858, he ran for the U.S. Senate again and lost again. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln’s life was filled with incredible suffering and setbacks, but that is what enabled him to endure the most difficult Presidency in history as America was divided by a Civil War. Failure prepared him for success.
So what kept Lincoln going? How did he endure the setbacks? He never lost his sense of destiny. And I think it's captured in his own words. Before leaving friends and family for his first term as President, Lincoln said: "I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail."
In 1809, he was born into poverty—a one-room log cabin 16 x 18 feet. In 1816, his family was evicted from their home and he had to work to support them. In 1818, his mother died. In 1831, he failed in business. In 1832, he ran for the state legislature and lost. In 1832, he also lost his job & wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in. In 1833, he borrowed money to start a business and was bankrupt by the end of the year. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off the debt. In 1835, he was engaged to be married but his sweetheart died and his heart was broken. In 1836, he had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months. In 1843, he ran for congress and lost. In 1849, he sought the job of land officer in his home state and was rejected. In 1854. he ran for the Senate and lost. In 1856, he sought the vice-presidential nomination at his party’s national convention and got less than 100 votes. In 1858, he ran for the U.S. Senate again and lost again. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln’s life was filled with incredible suffering and setbacks, but that is what enabled him to endure the most difficult Presidency in history as America was divided by a Civil War. Failure prepared him for success.
So what kept Lincoln going? How did he endure the setbacks? He never lost his sense of destiny. And I think it's captured in his own words. Before leaving friends and family for his first term as President, Lincoln said: "I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail."
9 Comments:
Great stuff Mark! I believe so few people live with that "sense of destiny" that you mentioned in your post. I think living with the sense that God really wants to use you for something bigger than yourself is what gives you the persistence to move forward through failure & learn from it.
Matt
hi mark, my family and i visited ncc for the first time this sunday and met you right before 3rd. just wanted to say that we loved the message - especially that story of addie [i think that was her name]. anyway, that was crazy and true - things sometimes need to die to be reborn.
thanks for what you and your team are doing at ncc!
Thanks Mark - Needed that!
Hi Mark,
I am an Aussie in Colorado attending a missions conference for the next few days. Got to your blog through the Business As Missions Network site.
I am often in the DC area and would love to meet you one time.
Thanks for your blog. I am still hanging on to that destiny.
Blessings,
Tom
Thanks for sharing that! Puts a lot into perspective. I sure need to see things in that light right now!
Tom,
Let me know when you're coming through town. We'll try to grab coffee at Ebenezers!
Blessings,
Mark
Hello Pastor Mark,
I am Debora seals , I am italian and I have been in US for 11 years. I read The Goose Chase and really blessed me. I've told all my friends in Roma about your book. Have you ever considerate traslating your books in italian?? I think Italy needs to hear this!
Cioa,
Debora
Debora,
Wish it was in lots of languages :) That is up to my publisher. By the way, I love Rome!
Mark
Mark, I'm well into Wild Goose Chase, and just read:
"God is setting up divine appointments all the time. And as long as our motives stay pure and our spirits stay sensitive, He will make sure we meet the right people at the right time."
Do you think this is a valid business strategy?
Enn
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