Fear of Faillure?
So ask yourself: Why do you have a fear of failure?
I have learned that If you’ve never failed, maybe you haven’t really taken any real risks either. Maybe you haven’t tackled any really challenging scenarios. If you try for “safe” at all times, there won’t be much chance of failure; there won’t be much chance of outstanding success either.
Those who keep looking back at their failures will never win the race set before them. We can evaluate where and how we failed for the purpose of learning and growing; however, the past is never to be our focus. If it is, it will cripple our future. As we look at failure, we need to understand why we fail and when we fail.
We fail when we try to do something we are not capable of doing, not gifted in or talented in.
Therefore, it is important, as Romans 12:3 tells us, not to think more highly of ourselves than we should think. We need to take an honest and objective look at ourselves and recognize our limitations.
We also fail when we try to do it "our way," when we don't follow and live by God's precepts, His commandments, or when we think we are smarter than God, or don't need to involve God...this time. Multitudes are failing in their family lives, relationships, parenting, and even in providing for their loved ones because they haven't studied God's word. Thus they do not know God or His ways. The will of God is discerned by knowing the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2). We need to put ourselves on the altar and tell God He can direct us any way He desires. The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.
If your failures point out personal inadequacies or weaknesses, examine them to see how you could strengthen these areas so you don’t make the same mistake again. Use failure as an opportunity for growth and personal development.
If your failures cause loss of self-esteem, embarrassment, shame and humiliation, you need to ask yourself,
Does my sense of worth come from who I am or from what I do?”
Initial feelings of this nature are normal, but if you tie worth to work, remind yourself of how Christ sees you, how He died for you, and how He is invested in your growth.
Just a few of the noteworthy biblical heroes that were examples of failure include:
· David’s failure with Bathsheba.
· Joseph’s failure and his brothers resulting actions.
· Moses’s failure when he killed the Egyptian.
· Peter’s failure when he denied Christ.
What you see as a failure God sees as a blessing.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
You have not yet experienced true humiliation and fear until you’ve shaken hands with failure. What happens when you tried everything in your power, only to be brought to a place where you realize that your own efforts have come to naught, and that bankruptcy is staring you in the face. An uncontrollable fear sets in. I’ve been there, I know how it feels.
It is a lonely place. In fact thinking or planning even one day ahead becomes impossible but it is also a place where God can perform miracles if you will only trust Him. But to trust Him you need to seek Him as Jesus Himself aid “ But seek first his kingdom and his righteous and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:33 - 34
Os Hillman refers to these hardships as “desert experiences”
What desert experiences has He brought into your life? He is walking beside you in order to test you and find out what is really in your heart. Ask for His grace to pass the test. He wants to bring all of His children into the Promised Land.
Psalm 27:14 Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you Be brave, stout hearted and courageous. Yes wait and he will help you.
Our waiting should be on the Lord and that He is worth waiting for. He never disappoints the waiting soul. While waiting keep up your spirits. Expect a great deliverance and be ready to praise God for it.
I first had to pass, before I would see any deliverance these tests are not easy, in fact they were battles. I learned a very valuable lesson’ you can trust God to deliver in difficult times, provided you are obedient to His guidance and instructions and use His word to through at the enemy and take hold of you mind and thoughts to bring it in line with Gods thoughts and wisdom.
Bottom line, failure is good for you. Failure provides many benefits. Failure keeps you humble. Failure enables others to identify with you. Failure prepares you to minister to others. Failure shows you are taking risks. Failure helps you understand anything of value is really accomplished through the Lord and is the result of His blessing.
So stand tall when failing, knowing you are eliminating possibilities on route to success. Here’s a toast to failure! May God bring you much failure, and through it bless all those around you.
With Love
Liesel van Zyl