Fight the Fear of Failing

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit.

Zechariah 4:6b (CEV)

Fear of failure. It keeps athletes from taking a shot, business executives from taking a risk, artists from showing their work. Who knows how many great talents are hidden because people are afraid of failure?

What’s holding you back? Afraid you aren’t good enough? Strong enough? Skilled enough?

In today’s verse, God sends a message to Zerubbabel, a governor in Israel. God wanted a relationship with the Israelites again. Part of making that happen was through the rebuilding of the temple where they could meet and worship, a huge task. God said it wouldn’t be Zerubbabel’s might or power that would do it, but that God’s Spirit would help him get it done.

The bottom line: we are not strong enough or good enough to accomplish on our own the things God asks. We are human and we are going to fail. But God gives us hope. He will accomplish his plans using us. When he gives us a task to do, we need to start out—take the risk and a baby step—and his power will help us finish it.

What do you think God is telling you to do? Are you holding back out of fear? Are you willing to do the hard work he is calling you to do? God asks us to keep doing the next thing, keep taking the next step, and keep trusting him.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

What are the things you’ve wanted to do but didn’t because you were afraid of failing? Make a list on some paper or a journal. Then pray about it. If you feel God is pushing you to try something on the list, he will give you the power to try!

INSPIRATION

“God’s definition of success is really one of significance—the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. The significance doesn’t show up in won-loss records, long resumes, or the trophies gathering dust on our mantels. It’s found in the hearts and lives of those we’ve come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived.”

—Tony Dungy, football player and NFL coach

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Romans 8:26

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Galatians 4:6–7

Ephesians 1:19–20