“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise.”~ Micah 7:8
There is no disgrace in falling; there is in refusing to get up. Like a boxer knocked off his feet, stay down as the referee counts 10, but get up on 9. The test of a man is what it takes to stop him.
We are told in the Bible, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand,” Psa. 37:23-24. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again,”~Prov. 24:16.
The very best of the saints knew and experienced these truths; ask Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, David, Peter, Paul, Mark. They all will attest to this fact.
A common list of the failures of Abraham Lincoln (along with a few successes) is:
1831 - Lost his job
1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature
1833 - Failed in business
1834 - Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)
1835 - Sweetheart died
1836 - Had nervous breakdown
1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
1843 - Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
1846 - Elected to Congress (success)
1848 - Lost re-nomination
1849 - Rejected for land officer position
1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate
1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President
1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
1860 - Elected President (success)
KEEP GETTING UP!