It was a colossal baking failure.

“How did your muffins turn out?” hubby said.

“Terrible!”

“Then throw them out.”

“Oh, no,” I said. “I can eat them.” Immediately I began thinking of ways to make them better.

I’d made those muffins several times using raisins and dried apricots. But the raisins are high-calorie. Why not substitute pineapple? I didn’t drain the crushed pineapple, thinking the juice could replace skim milk in the original recipe.

After baking them for the suggested time, I removed the muffins from the oven and checked one. The inside was a gooey glob. Back in the oven another ten minutes. Still gooey.

After five more minutes, the muffins were still slightly gooey but looked edible. I could hardly wait to sample my ingenious creation. My impression of the first bite: overwhelmingly pineapple.

I like pineapple, but this was too much of a good thing. I don’t like throwing away good stuff. I also have a little streak of stubbornness that wouldn’t let a muffin win this contest of wills.

So…I started thinking about ways to make the muffins better. I cut one into chunks and heated in the microwave, sprinkled almonds and coconut on top, added a generous scoop of sugar-free vanilla ice cream and sugar-free whipped topping, and drizzled caramel syrup over all. Delicious!

I only have two muffins left. Thinking I may bake another batch. And don’t be surprised if my dessert shows up at a church potluck!

What do we do when life hands us a colossal failure? We can give up…or we can consider ways to make things better.

What do we do when life hands us a colossal failure? We can give up…or we can consider ways to make things better. Click To Tweet

Another term for my “little streak of stubbornness” is a “gift of perseverance.” I refuse to give up. Giving up is easy. It takes courage to persevere through failure and make something delicious.

That’s the quality I most admire in my biblical friend, Joseph. No matter what life threw at him, he made the best of his situation. Despised by his brothers, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, unjustly accused, imprisoned, and forgotten.

But God had put a promise in his heart; and believing it would come to pass, he made the best of every situation (read his story in Genesis 37-50).

Even if the future didn’t bring what he expected, making the best of his circumstances enriched his present. No way could he fail.

You know the end of the story. Overnight he went from prison to Pharaoh’s palace, becoming second in command in Egypt. Through his wise leadership, the nation stored grain during seven years of plenty to sustain them through the harsh seven years of famine.

What has life thrown at you? Has failure stolen your dream and your grit and left you thinking about giving up? Don’t do it!

What has life thrown at you? Has failure stolen your dream and your grit and left you thinking about giving up? Don’t do it! Click To Tweet

Right now, start making a list of ways to make things better. God has given you all you need to turn colossal failure into something delicious!

“I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only” (Psalm 71:16).

Would you tell me about a time when failure nearly robbed your dreams? And please share this article with your friends.

© Dianne Barker 2020