Fear of Failure

When you hear the word FAILURE what comes to mind? Do you instantly remember moments you have failed? Does it cause you to worry about how you might fail in the days ahead? Is failure something you fear?

Failure is something we all experience and something many fear. Today in my devotion at the Encouragement Cafe I address this very thing...if you'd like to read it click HERE. Like I said, we have nothing to fear because God uses failure too!

In His Word, God tells us we are not to fear. The Bible also tells us, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7) Friend, failure is one of those things we are not to fear and something we are equipped to overcome.

Have you ever thought about what failure really is? Webster defines it as a lack of success, falling short or omitting an expected task. 

I read that definition and a few things come to mind...Who determines what success is? Remember God defines it much differently than the world! The same is true in regards to falling short...who is measuring your success? The third piece of the definition is probably where we need to focus most because if we're honest this is probably how we fail the most.

Friend, we fail in doing what others expect from us and even what we expect from ourselves, but more than that how often do we fail God in doing what He commands? I'll be the first to answer...way too often. I'll also be the first to admit that this is a failure I use to fear.

But thankfully, I don't have to and neither do you. God is a God who desires for us to be holy and live rightly, but we don't have to fear Him when we fail (and we will) because He is a God of grace and a Father who forgives.

Think about these verses...

"God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Friend God's grace is what it's all about...our success will not earn His love and our failures cannot lose it! So today will you join me in pressing on whether you win or lose because He doesn't expect perfection, but can use our perseverance!!

A special welcome to my new friends stopping by from the Encouragement Cafe and a warm hello to my faithful readers!!