"God can’t use us profoundly unless we hurt deeply.”
— Scott Hamilton
Listening to the radio the other day, I came across an interview with Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic ice skating gold medalist. He talked about his skating career, a bit about the loneliness he felt from singleness, and cancer…the big “C” word that changes the lives of so many. Each blow in his life was a different type of letdown. But, each time within the downward spiral of disappointment, mediocrity, shame and even self-abatement, he retrospectively saw victory. His ability to look at adversity and glean the good from such obstacles became a trademark of who Scott Hamilton is.
At times in my own life, I have marked disasters as setbacks not stepping stones. The difference between someone who succeeds and one who doesn’t is perspective. Seeing failure as an end cannot result in growth because the buck stops there.
When a muscle is strained or a bone broken, advice and treatment is sought from a doctor. Proper measures are taken to heal the area that has been affected. Using this analogy from life, when a situation or relationship is strained, broken or considered a loss, it needs attention not abandonment. Hamilton said, “The greatest strength is a lack of weakness. Find your weaknesses and knock them out one at a time.” He saw failure as feedback and cancer as “probably the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”
"Failure is feedback.”
— Scott Hamilton
Failure should wake us up. It should liven our senses to areas within that need attention. Failure is not the end, it more than likely the beginning of a tough, hard climb up a very steep hill with many obstacles. Seeing failure as such shows great tenacity and prepares us for what God has next for us. In a recipe, failure is the single most important ingredient according to Hamilton, but it doesn’t have to be the main ingredient!
Christian theologian, A.W. Tozer once said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” In the words of Hamilton, “God can’t use us profoundly unless we hurt deeply.” Do you want to be used by God? Take inventory of your weaknesses, failures and disappointments. Consider them feedback, a response or an observation. Learn from your so-called failures; don’t live under them.
