We don’t always accomplish what we set out to accomplish. During these times, when we feel like a failure, we just need to look at the situation differently. The only person we can control is ourselves. So if our results depend on others, then we have to reframe our success and ask ourselves a few questions.

• Did you do your part?

• Did you show up and put in the work?

If we can answer yes to these questions, then we didn’t fail. So often our definition of success is so limited that we cause ourselves to fail before we even get started. In this journey, we have to keep going and walking by faith. Honestly, none of us know what will happen to us. We are going to have disappointments and failures along the way. And find many ways that won’t work. That is just part of the journey. Failure is a beautiful teacher. Sometimes what we see as failure is really just the next step toward our success. When we experience these moments, we get to decide how to handle them. We can quit — and believe that it’s not possible or we can work even harder.

In all reality, our failures have a purpose. Not everything that we try will work. Just because it worked for someone else doesn’t mean the exact formula will work for us. Sometimes we have to find our own way and walk by faith — believing wholeheartedly that God will help us. When we do our part, then He will do His.

God gives us the desires of our hearts. After all, He is the One who put them there. When we find something that sets our soul on fire, then we need to pursue it with our whole heart. It’s a gift. If we keep working and putting forth an effort, even when it’s hard and we want to quit, then God will reward our efforts in His time.

My daddy tells me, “Hang in there! You’re doing better than what you think.”

Candida Sullivan is an author and inspirational speaker. She lives in New Tazewell with her husband and kids. For more information about her books or to schedule her for your event, email her at candidasullivan@yahoo.com.