It is in this part of the world that we believe that when someone makes an attempt at something few times and failed then some mysterious powers must be responsible. People will call it ‘village people’. But as far as I know, those who have made history in life are not the people who have never failed before, but they are those who have overcome their setbacks and have gone ahead to succeed against all odds.

If village people are responsible for everything, then Thomas Edison would not have finally succeeded in his invention. But after 9,999 times of failed attempts, he invented the light bulb. Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States had myriads of challenges which could have been ascribed to the influence of ‘village people’. He started encountering setbacks as early as 1832 when he lost his job and got defeated for state legislature. He finally became president in 1860 after several failed attempt in-between. That is 28 years of consistent failure. For Thomas Edison, he learnt the lesson, which is that when asked about his 9,999 times failure to invent the light bulb replied by saying “I have not failed. I have just found 9,999 ways that do not work.” Abraham Lincoln also learned what it means to be tenacious. So, before you consider yourself unlucky in life or ascribe your setbacks to village people, have you demonstrated enough persistence, tenacity and determination to succeed?

Do not be too quick to ascribe all the reasons for your setbacks to the Devil. Employ the weapon of prayer, but never forget that if you are the type that gives up easily you may not succeed at anything in life. The Bible says “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Prov 24:10. You may not succeed at your first few attempts at that thing, but do not be a person of little strength. Do not try few times and give up. If you have attempted and failed before, try again. You can make history like Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln and many others. You can succeed where you have failed. Arise, put on your strength and go again. Refire!