Overcoming A Perceived Fear Of Failure

Of the many fears we face in a lifetime, the fear of failure - real or perceived - seems to be the strongest fear we encounter.

It can cause some to retreat and avoid risks. But sadly these individuals miss out on the rewards that others discover when pushing past a fear full of anxious questions about the unknown. Think of how the world changed when Leif Ericson followed by Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas against the popular belief the world was flat. Go too far and you will fall off the earth!

For believers, the fear of failure is a weapon the Enemy often uses to prevent us from talking about Christ to our co-workers or neighbors. What will they think? Will they react badly? What happens when I have a bad day and don't act much like a Christian?

This same fear of failure is used to keep us from pressing into Him. We say and do things (more often in private) that make us feel like failures. Especially when we have done well for a while but then something happens and we find ourselves in a familiar pit of self recrimination.

We have the example of Peter who denied Christ not just once but three times. What is interesting is Jesus never talks about it when meeting Peter after the resurrection. He simply asked Peter (note three times) if he loved Him (John 21:15).

I believe this is key to overcoming any fear especially perceived fears. Perceived fears are not so much evident but are more felt like dark, thick shadows clouding out the light in our minds to see and understand accurately. It's that "what if" question that causes us to fear what may not be true or known.

The key to overcoming this fear is not running through endless questions but asking ourselves do we love Him more especially when we fail?

The Scriptures tells us that perfect (mature) love cast out fear (1 John 4:18). The true test to overcoming the fear of failure and when we actually do fail is that we respond to Him in love. Quite the opposite of what we normally do when we sink low. We often work harder, make promises and do all sorts of religious exercises to be right with God.

That is why we must not only confess our sins but confess that we love Him - not based on what we did or did not do - but because he first loved us.

Returning to Him our love and devotion will displace perceived fears that disfigure and disgrace our relationship with Him. Love matures and grows. It becomes bolder to push past whispers of perceived fears to see the reality of Christ who is for us and not against us. So we can say together: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 KJV).