Don't Let Fear Rob You of God's Blessings

“It never ceases to amaze me when God wants to take someone to the next level in their life and they let fear of the unknown rob them of tremendous blessings. I think there are two common problems with Christians- They are scared to death of being truly free and of God's overwhelming love.”
― R. Alan Woods, The Journey Is the Destination: A Book of Quotes With Commentaries

Does this sound familiar? Most of us at have been there at one time or another. Being scared is not so unusual, fear of something is common to us all. However, do you find that you are afraid to step out of box, so to speak, because of the fear of failure? The fear of failure is not really new. It’s been around for ages.

I'd like to discuss the fear of failure today by referring to the Bible. Honestly, no one likes to talk about his or her Failures. So how then can we overcome the fear of failure so that it doesn't paralyze us to move forward? Using the Bible as reference, there are four things we need to understand if we are going to take risks that will honor God. They are as follows:

1. Discover that everyone fails. You are not alone!! The starting point to overcoming the fear of failure is to realize, that it is a universal experience. Everybody fails. For example, James is very specific about this. He says, “We all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2).  A study has been done and they've discovered that the failure rate of human beings is 100%.  What does this tell us? Nobody is perfect! We all blow it. You can’t get away from that principle in Scripture. In fact, even great men of the Bible failed!

Don't believe it? Check this out: Abraham failed to believe that God would give him a son so he slept with someone who wasn't his wife, but God didn't give up on him. Jacob was a thief, and God allowed him to bless the world through his children. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, survived the flood but ended up getting drunk. Moses stuttered and was a murderer. David committed adultery with Bethsheba, and then murdered her husband to hide his failing. Yet, David became known as a man “after God’s heart.”
Friends, the list could go on and on. Everyone fails!  There’s a second way to overcome the fear of failure. We also have to...

2. Determine that failure is not final. Look at (Proverbs 24:16), “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” Even good guys stumble! History is filled with the biographies of failures who got up and kept going. George Washington lost 2/3 of all the battles he fought during the American Revolution, but eventually won the war and became the first President of the United States. Napoleon graduated 42nd in a class of 43 students. Brilliant! Then he went out and conquered Europe. Failure doesn’t have to be final.

Billy Graham said that when he was asked to preach his first sermon. He had 4 sermons prepared and he was so nervous he preached all four of them in under 10 minutes. Can you imagine if Billy Graham had said, “You know, I’m just not cut out for this. I don’t want to endure that kind of embarrassment again”? The world would have missed one of the greatest preachers of all time. Failure doesn't have to be final.

Isn't it true that many of us give up too quickly? But one of the best ways to learn is through failure. You become a success through failure. But that is not to imply we have to enjoy it, or that it feels good. Certainly, failure hurts, but faith can move us forward.

The late novelist, John Gardner said: “One of the reasons why mature people stop growing and learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.” Failure isn't the worst thing that can happen, and it doesn't have to be final. There’s another way to overcome the fear of failure, and that’s to...

3. Discern (recognize) the benefits of failure. Paul said of the Romans in Romans 8: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…according to His purpose.” “Does that include failure?” It sure does. God can work even in our failures! Think of all the benefits to failure. For instance...

It educates us. Thomas Edison said he had 10,000 failures before he learned how to work the light bulb. He said he didn't call it a failure; he called it an education. Failure also develops our skills. How did you learn to ride a bike? You fell down and got back up. You learned to roller skate the same way. Failure is a stepping-stone to success if you try new approaches.

Failure also makes us less judgmental. Most of the, people I know who fail tend to be more sympathetic. Without failure, it’s easy to kind of look down our noses at those who fail. Jesus said it best when he said, “The one who has been forgiven little loves little.”  So, if we want to conquer the fear of failure, we have to discover that everyone fails, determine that failure is not final, discern the benefits of failure. And then we must…

4. Decide to stop comparing ourselves to others. Frankly, this is the root of a lot of failure. We live in a competitive society. We've taken competition overdose. Everybody competes with somebody else. Parents even compete with each other through their kids’ sports competition, or music competition, or the clothes their kids wear. And the competition goes on and on. Sometimes, people even compete through the gifts they buy.

In closing, success is just doing your best. Failure is not making the effort. When you compare yourself with others, you set yourself up for the fear of failure. If you want to conquer the fear of failure, you have to discover that everyone fails, determine that failure is not final, discern the benefits of failure, decide to stop comparing yourselves to others, and... Depend on the power of Jesus.

Scripture: Philippians 4:13; 1 John 1:9; Galatians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 6:23; Psalm 150:1-6

Prayer: Dear Lord, please be with me throughout this day as I face the unknown. Calm the fear in my heart and help me to see the brightness in a future that is unclear. Amen

God bless you!

Abby