I found this audio on Brian Auten’s Apologetics 315 web site.

Here is the MP3 file.

And here is my summary.

Intro:

• the topic of failure is not one that is often discussed by Christians
• failure #1: failure in the Christian life which is the result of sin
• failure #2: when a Christian is defeated while trying to serve God
• the consequences for failure #1 can be worse for the Christian
• the consequences for failure #2 can be worse for the world as whole
• how is it possible for a person to fail when they are obeying God? (#2)
• how can it be that God can call someone to a task then let them fail?
• failure is not persecution – persecution is normal for Christians
• failure is not trials – testing is normal for Christians to grow

Bill’s failure:

• Bill had submitted all the coursework for his second doctoral degree
• but he had to pass a comprehensive oral examination
• he failed to pass the comprehensive exam
• Bill and Jan and his supporters had all prayed for him to pass
• how could God allow this to happen?

Solution to the problem:

• God’s will for us may be that we fail at the things we try in life
• there are things that God may teach us through failure
• Bill learned that human relationships are more important than careers
• we need to realize that “success” in life is not worldly success
• true success is getting to know God well during your life
• and failure may be the best way to get to know God well
• it may even be possible to fail to know God while achieving a lot
• the real measure of a man is loving God and loving your fellow man

Practical:

• give thanks to God regardless of your circumstances
• try to learn from your failure
• never give up

The ending of Bill’s story:

• Bill spent an entire year preparing for a re-take of his exam
• Bill was awarded his second doctorate “magna cum laude” (with great distinction)
• Bill learned that American students are not well prepared for exams
• the year of studying remedied his inadequate American education
• in retrospect, he is thankful for the failure – he learned more

If you like this, you should pick up Craig’s book “Hard Questions, Real Answers“, which has a chapter on this problem.