I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be in Gordon Brown's shoes. Regardless of our political position, to be publicly labelled as having failed, in newspapers, interviews and by colleagues and opposition alike must feel devastating.

At some times in our lives we all experience failure, whether exams, jobs, as a parent and it is an uncomfortable position. Remember Peter, who openly spoke of his love for Jesus yet when the time came failed him. Failure is almost part of life but I think there are two things which matter.
Firstly what do we fail in? For this world is quick to condemn, and it's measures of success are not God's measures of success. In the story of Moses, we never know Pharoh's name, for all his power and wealth and success history does not remember him. Yet Shiprah and Puah, two midwives with no position or rank are recorded for all time because they helped the Hebrew women to save their children.
Secondly, failure is human but need not be the end of the story, Jesus continued to love Peter and gave him the task of building his  church, and Jesus still loves us even when we do fail, and  wants to use us for his work.

This world does not have the last word.

"Then Jesus said to him."Follow me"" John 21 vs 19