Is Fear of Failing Holding You Back?
We’ve all likely been there, afraid of doing something because we might fail so we don’t do it. One might desire to participate in a sport, but the fear of failure prevents them from going out for the team. The dream job presents itself, and because you are afraid you might fail, you turn down the job, regretting your decision for years. Did we refuse to advance to the next level in our schooling for fear of failing a grade in High School? How many folks decide to forgo college out of fear of failing at ‘higher education’ and take a full-time job instead, and years later lament their action (or lack of it)? Does a man or woman refuse to marry because they fear that the one they chose for a mate “might become unfaithful so that the marriage fails? Many other examples could also be given, but these should suffice.
According to AI, the root cause of fear of failure is rarely the failure itself. Instead, it is a deeply rooted anxiety response tied to shame, conditional self-worth, and the core belief that making a mistake means you are inadequate, unloved, or unimportant. But if we understand the true definition of fear, we should be able to use fear for our good rather than allowing it to control us. Fear, by definition, is a primal, protective survival mechanism triggered by a perceived physical or psychological threat.
Overcoming the fear of failure involves shifting your mindset to view mistakes as feedback rather than a reflection of your self-worth. You can dismantle this anxiety by accepting discomfort, breaking goals into small steps, and practicing self-compassion instead of seeking self-perfection. Perhaps some quotes from some well-known folks who were successful can help us see how this works. Michael Jordan: said, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” Theodore Roosevelt: stated “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
Some very successful people in various areas failed on several occasions. Thomas Edison had many attempts that failed yet framed them as finding ways that don’t work. Henry Ford viewed failure as a chance to start more wisely. Winston Churchill wisely asserted, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” He highlighted that true greatness lies in rising after a fall and maintaining enthusiasm through repeated setbacks. This means that one must have perseverance. But whether one succeeds or fails in most of life’s endeavors matters little.
What really matters is whether we endeavor to go to Heaven when life on this earth for all is over. And there is no reason to fear failure in this area. Those who are afraid of failure in the realm of obedience to, and service to God, are those who have no faith. Do we not believe what God has said in His Word? In 2Tim 1:7 the Spirit had Paul pen, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power (Rom 1:16), and of love (1John 5:3), and of a sound mind (Phil 4:8-9).”. Rather than have the fear of failing God, the Jews that had obeyed the gospel, were told in Heb 13:6, “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”. We also learn from 1Jno 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love (God’s Word) casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” The only “fear” we should have is facing God having not been obedient or not having remained faithful.
Perhaps these Scriptures were in the mind of my wife’s father when he wrote the poem below. He wrote this for my wife when she was asked to lead a ladies’ class in a congregation we attended when we lived in Florida in 1994.
Fear
The fear of God, is a reverence for Him,
Which leads men to obey,
And assess the values of right and wrong,
No matter what others say.
Such awareness motivates the trusting heart
To walk where we fear to tread,
And to cast out fear along the way,
For all will be well just ahead.
There is nothing to fear, but fear itself,
The inevitable will surely be.
And a well-founded faith will buoy us up
As we wrestle the storm of the sea.
“Oh, ye of little faith, why are ye afraid?”
We hear the Captain say,
“This ship won’t sink, in this troubled sea.
I sail this way everyday.”
And yes, when we walk thru the valley of death,
We won’t be traveling alone.
We’ll have no fear, for our Captain is near,
to safely direct us home.
Fear God, and keep His Commandments we’re told,
This is the whole duty of man.
Because from where we are, it may not be far,
‘Til we enter the PROMISED LAND!”
(O.D. Wilson – deceased)
Is the “fear of failing” to make it to heaven holding anyone back from obeying the gospel or living faithfully? Is it holding one back from evangelizing? That kind of fear leads to failure. If fear is holding you back in these areas of life, you’ve already failed because you’re not properly preparing for eternity. Why not trust in the Lord, learn His Commands, obey them and become His child. Then, serve Him faithfully for the remainder of your life. That’s the only way to win.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
