Love Works, Good Works!
1 Cor.13:8 “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away” [NIV]
The fourth thing that you and I must do to banish the fear of failure is to Redefine Failure. Failure should not be what the world has called it – you redefine it. Doing something that does not work is not failure. Failure is not doing that thing in the first place. Failure is not making an effort that became fruitless but actually not making the effort at all. Ecc.3:12 “I realized that all we can do is be happy and do the best we can while we are alive” [GN, with emphasis]. As a wife, a father, a teacher, a manager, a leader – all you can do Read the rest of this entry
No Danger
Isa.53:11 He will see and be satisfied because of his suffering My righteous servant will acquit many people because of what he has learned through suffering…” [GW]
I used to tell everyone that asked me, that I wanted to be Pharmacist. I chose the profession at random in my quest to quiet all such questions. Close to my final year in secondary school, I got into trouble and I was suspended from school. During the two weeks of staying at home, I hung out with my neighbor who was a software person and software fascinated me. Just seeing what software could accomplish changed my life.
The Press
Rom. 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him . . . according to His purpose” [with emphasis].
Like it or not, failure is beneficial. The second benefit of failure is that it develops our skills. Think about how children learn to walk. When they fall, they may not try it again that same day but the following day they are up again learning to walk. Thomas Edison says, “Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.” Your goal is to make a candle that can stand without support but all your attempts have not fallen through. Package it in a cup and sell that one while you keep attempting.
Truth Nuggets
Prov. 1:5-6 “I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.” [LB]
1 Cor.10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind…” [NIV]. Failure is not fatal but rather it is common to mankind. Just get up, dust your body and keep on moving. Fact: failure is not the worst thing that can happen to you. So do not blow it out of proportion. I am not saying that what you are experiencing is easy but the Bible says it is common to man. So begin to see it as God sees it and relax; do not specialize your case.
Common To Man
Gal.6:9 “We must never get tired of doing good because if we don’t give up the struggle we shall get our harvest at the proper time” [JB].
The story is told of a man that had to work to support his family when he was seven years old because they were forced out of their home due to legal technicalities. When he was nine years old, still a shy little boy, his mother died. When he as twenty-two, he lost his job as a store clerk. He wanted to go to law school but he did not have the qualification. At twenty-three, he went in debt to become a partner in a small store. Three years after, his business partner died leaving him a huge debt that took years to repay.
Keep Going!
Isa.35:3 “With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,and encourage those who have weak knees. 4 Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear,for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”
God is thoroughly equipping us to banish, expel, get rid of, and to eradicate the fear of failing from our lives. Do not be casual about this season, there is nothing simple about God’s work in our lives. If we could achieve these things in our strength, God would not have sent us a Helper. The truth is you and I need help so please submit to the Holy Spirit.
A lot of the time, the factors that cause failure are totally out of our control. There are so many things that are out of our control. For Read the rest of this entry
Staying Power
Isa.60:1 “Arise, shine;For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you”
The only way to avoid failure is never to try. On this side of eternity, no one is perfect. To overcome the fear of failure you must understand that everybody fails. Jam.3:2 “We all stumble in many ways.” Did the Bible say a few of us, or the mediocre, or the less than perfect stumble? Not at all! The Bible says ALL stumble, including evangelists, business moguls, prophets, leaders, and pastors etcetera. The day you get that, you set yourself free.
Risk Taking
Prov. 13:4 “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” [NKJV, with emphasis]
Jesus is a Master of story telling. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us the story of a master that gave money to three of his servants while he was travelling. Two of the servants took a risk, invested the money and made more. The third servant was afraid of failing, so he did nothing. Matt.25:25-26 “…I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground . . . His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant!’” [with emphasis]. The master responded with strong but instructive words. When we do not push the envelop of our lives, God sees us as wicked and lazy. When we cave in because of the fear of failing, God says wicked and lazy. Read the rest of this entry
As God Sees
Matt.25:25-26 “So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground . . . His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant!’”
The truth is no matter how successful we are in some areas of life; we still struggle with the fear of failure in other areas of life. It is not uncommon to find someone that is successful in his finances being afraid for his marriage. Or someone that is successful in his marriage being afraid of failure in his career. Or someone that is successful in parenting being afraid of failing in the area of personal direction. The question is can we really be free from the fear of failure or is it something that we should accept as part of life?
Antidote II
Ps. 27:10 “Even if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”
Most times, people that struggle with the pain of rejection, particularly from people they are most vulnerable to, start to think there is something wrong with them. If you are in this category then this message is for you. I am here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with you but something is wrong with them. It is possible that you have spent years trying to get your father’s approval. I am here to tell Read the rest of this entry
