Fail Safe

Fear of Failure

The fear of failure is a common fear. People fear…

 Failing as a parent

 Failing as a friend or companion

 Failing in their careers

 Failing as a Christian

We will look at ways to overcome your Fear of Failure:

 Remember that everyone fails.

A recent study showed that the failure rate of human beings is 100%. Nobody’s perfect.

Moses failed (Exodus 2:11-15).

We all stumble in many ways (James 3:2).

Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again (Pr. 24:16).

      The Bible does not hide the failures of its heroes. That’s the difference between the stories of the Bible and many stories told about people today. Many stories about well-known people, even Christians don’t tell us about the person’s failures. You might get the impression that they never struggled.

Babe Ruth was once baseball’s all-time home run king. But did you know that he was also the all-time strikeout champion. He struck out almost twice as often as he hit home runs. He knew that he had to risk striking out in order to hit those home runs. When asked for the secret of his success, Ruth replied, “I just keep on swingin’ at ‘em!”

 Realize that failure is not final.

Moses once was a prince; now he’s a shepherd. He once was famous; now he’s forgotten. His life once was full of promise; now his life seems destined to end in failure. But Moses’ failure was not final (Exodus 3:1-10).

Try to identify this historical figure: When I was seven years old, my family was forced out of our home because of a legal technicality. I had to work to help support my family. At age nine, while still a backwards, shy little boy, my mother died. At age 22, I lost my job as a store clerk. I wanted to go to law school but my education wasn’t good enough. At 23, I went into debt to become a partner in a small store. Three years later my partner died leaving me a huge debt, which took years to repay. At 28, after developing romantic relations with a young lady for four years, I asked her to marry me. She said no. At 37, on my third try, I was finally elected to the United States Congress. Two years later, I ran again and failed to be re-elected. I had a nervous breakdown at that time. At 41, adding additional heartache to an already unhappy marriage, my four-year-old son died. The next year I ran for Land Officer and lost. At 45, I ran for the Senate and lost. A few years later, I ran for the Vice Presidency and lost. At 49, I ran for the Senate again and lost. And at 51, I was elected President of the United States. Who am I? My name is Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s life was one continuous failure. But he kept on going and became probably the greatest President in American history. He realized that failure is not final.

 Recognize the benefits of failure.

Moses may not have been chose to be Israel’s deliverer if he had never failed.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). All things includes failures. That doesn’t mean that our failures are good. But God can take our failures and bring something good out of them.

• Failure educates us. How?

• Failure makes us less judgmental. How?

 Replace your fear with faith in God.

Moses offered many excuses, but God had an answer for them all (Exodus 3:11-15; 4:1-17).

Moses’ excuse: I’m nobody. “Who am I?” (v. 11).

God’s answer: It doesn’t matter who you are! “I will be with you” (v. 12). Don’t think, “Who am I?” Remember that God says, “I will be with you.”

Moses’ excuse: I’m not smart enough. (I don’t even know your name!) “What shall I tell them?” (v. 13).

God’s answer: “I AM WHO I AM” (v. 14). Yahweh (also translated Jehovah) is derived from the Hebrews word for “I am.” God is emphasizing His unchanging nature. The same God who helped Moses’ ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would help him.

Moses’ excuse: I’m not talented enough. (I don’t have the leadership skills to do the job.) “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1).

God’s answer: He gave Moses three miraculous signs: the changing of Moses’ staff into a snake, the changing of the appearance of Moses’ hand, and the changing of water into blood ( Exodus 4:2-9). God gave Moses signs to prove to Moses and the Israelites that God was with Moses. God will give you what you need to do His will.

 

Moses’ excuse: I’m not qualified. “I have never been eloquent…. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10).

God’s answer: “Who gave man his mouth?” (v. 11).

Moses’ excuse: I’m not the best choice. “Please send someone else to do it” (v. 13).

God’s answer: Aaron will help you (vv. 14-17).

Moses completely missed the message of God’s power. “I AM” is all that we need in every circumstance of life. It’s foolish for us to argue, “I am not,” when God said, “I AM.”—

Moses was showing a lack of faith. Maybe you have experienced failures in your past. Maybe you’re afraid of failure in the future. Remember what Philippians 4:13 says: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. I can face failure through Christ who gives me strength. You can face failure through Christ who gives you strength.

Many of us are like the African impala. The impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these amazing creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they can’t see where their feet will land

We live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). God didn’t reveal to Moses’ every detail of his future. But He did give Moses the promise that He would be with Him. In the end, Moses believed God’s promise and obeyed His will.

Faith is being fully persuaded that God [has] power to do what he [has] promised (Rom. 4:21).

◦When Abraham should have stayed in the land and trusted the Lord, he fled to Egypt because of the drought. And this was by no means the last of Abraham’s failures.

◦Moses, in trying to help his people, ran ahead of the Lord and killed the Egyptian. Later, against the command of God, he struck the rock in his anger.

◦When David should have been out in the field of battle, he stayed home and committed adultery with Bathsheba and then plotted the murder of her husband.

◦Peter, in spite of his self-confidence and his great boast, denied the Lord, as did the rest of the disciples who fled before the evening our Lord’s arrest was over.

Were these people failures?

 

 

Remember God and His grace because He is the one who fills in my shortcomings and failures. I could never perform or improve sufficiently to not need His grace (1 John 1:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9).

 Remembering God’s grace with thankfulness will lead to a life of joy, regardless of circumstances   (Luke 17:11-19).

 Remembering God’s grace will grow my love for Christ because those who has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47). 

 Remembering God’s grace will teach me to say no to sin/ungodliness (Titus 2:11-14).

 How to overcome temptation to be fearful !

When I am tempted to feel like a failure and/or feel overwhelmed I will;

 Meditate on the these truths because the bridge between what I know and what I do is mediation (Psalm 19:14, Luke 6:43-45). NO MORE STINKING THINKIN’

 I will remember that these condemning thoughts (i.e. “I am a terrible Mom,” “I will never change,” “There is no hope for me.”) are not from God but are coming from the world, the flesh, or the devil and therefore I do not need to listen and/or believe them (Rev 12:10, John 8:44).

 I will repent when convicted of any sin(s) of believing lies about myself, God, or others (Proverbs 28:13).

 I will pray for wisdom as how to proceed with all my responsibilities, considering God’s agenda for me for the day (James 1:5-8). 

I will remember that growth is a lifelong process that will not be finished until I reach heaven (Proverbs 24:16, 2 Peter 3:18); therefore, regardless of my circumstances or failures, I can enjoy the journey and live a life of grace, thanksgiving, and joy.