Even our first parents in their human perfection failed. It isn't failing that is the problem, it's what one does after he has failed. To take failure as final is to be a failure. To see in failure the school of the Spirit is to let failure contribute to one's growth in Christ. And in His perfection He laid down His life to cover the failure of all.
Somebody has to lose.
That is indisputable. Trouble is, in our culture everybody is conditioned to win. So losing is often traumatic for the loser, for his friends, and for his family. We have made the winner our status symbol, and we don't know how to lose. We are so success-oriented we find it almost impossible to accept failure.