God is the Master Redeemer. He does not waste anything, not even the pain and hardships of our lives. God specializes in taking the pieces of our past that might seem like failures, disappointments, or unfulfilled dreams and turning them into something beautiful. In fact, those pieces are often the threads He uses to weave the future He intended for us all along. 

Several years ago, I worked with a couple of close friends to start an organization from scratch. Despite all of the energy and effort, this fledgling organization didn’t survive. At times, people have asked me about that season of my life. Why didn’t it work? What was the purpose of that season? Do you regret it? 

The honest answer is “No”…I do not regret it one bit. Why? Because today I can look back and say that God used that season to prepare me for the seasons that would follow. Had I not gone through that “failure,” several things would not exist today. For example:

• I would not understand how God develops leaders, or have my current understanding of leadership, because my philosophy of leadership was significantly formed in that organization.
• I would have never written my book, GO! Starting a Personal Growth Revolution, because it was in this organization that I learned the power of personal growth planning.
• I would have never written my book, Do Good Works, because a co-worker in this organization mentored me through the process of discovering my life purpose.
• 7 City Church would not have the vision it has today, because the seeds to the vision were planted in this organization when I was introduced to the idea of culture-shaping leadership.
• 7 City Church would not have an aggressive organizational learning culture, because it was in this organization that I was introduced to what it means to be a learning organization. 
• I would not have two great friends today that still speak into my life and offer so much encouragement and wisdom. 

Nothing is wasted. God redeems everything. I never would have guessed how instrumental my time would have been during a season that some might call a failure. In reality, it was a catalyst that shaped my life, leadership, and future ministry.

You might be going through a tough season right now, or you may have a chapter from your past that seems like a failure or a complete disappointment. Don’t waste that season. Where do you start? 

1. Don’t Let Failure Become an Inside Job 

When yesterday’s failures move into our heart today, it begins to poison our tomorrows. Failure is an event. When we let it become our identity, it gains more power than it was ever intended to have. You can’t harvest the lessons of failure unless you learn to separate your identity from it. 

2. Perspective Makes Sense of What Doesn’t Make Sense

In the moment of failure, it often doesn’t make sense. This is especially true when we tried to do something noble, something good, and we gave it our very best effort. Why would God let this fail? But when you adopt the right perspective, you’re able to make sense of what doesn’t make sense. In other words, when you choose to see failure in the broader context of God’s life-shaping process, you’re able to glean important insights that can add profound value to your future. 

3. Just Because a Dream is Lost Doesn’t Mean the Growth is Lost

Failure often means something has died, and many times it’s a dream. But just because the dream dies (or is significantly delayed), doesn’t mean all is lost. There is still gold to be mined. There is still growth to be harvested in the midst of all of it. Again, this starts with your perspective. There may be grieving in the pain, but there can also be growth. 

4. The Seeds Planted in One Season Produce a Crop in the Next Season

Failure doesn’t mean you weren’t faithful. I need to say that one more time: Failure doesn’t mean you weren’t faithful. In fact, God may choose to honor your faithfulness today at a later season of your life. Though the seeds you planted never bloomed, it doesn’t mean they can’t still bring a future harvest. 

That’s what happened to me with many of things I shared above. Seeds were planted in one season, but they didn’t bloom until a different season came. For me, that season was 7+ years later. Though it didn’t make sense in the moment, it makes perfect sense today.

I don’t know what season you’re going through right now, but I do know that God wastes nothing. But here’s the danger we face: though God wastes nothing, we can waste everything. In other words, God wants to redeem yesterday’s pain for today’s gain, but we have to let Him do so. If we don’t cooperate with His life-shaping process, we’ll squander the lessons (and the good that could come out of all of it). The question is, “Are we willing to learn from what feels wasted?” It’s in the learning that we discover God’s redemption.