? Dealing with the fear of failure.

Another expression of fear that is holding many people back from a successful life and from walking in all that God has for them is the fear of risk & failure.
 
Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.
1 John 4:18 The Passion Translation (TPT)

God is love (1 John 4:8). It is the essence of who He is. Love drives out fear; there is no fear in love.  If you are walking in a dynamic life-giving relationship with God (which every believer can do), then you have no need to fear anything – you do not have to fear the unknown or fear failure. God is never going to do anything to hurt you and He will only lead you into a place that’s good for you – you can trust Him.
 
If you wander from the right path, either to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “You should go this way. Here is the right way.”
Isaiah 30:21 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
 
Many people don’t step out of the boat because they’re scared that they may sink and drown. They ask, but what I lose everything? What if it doesn’t work out? To which I respond asking, but what if it does work out? You cannot walk on water unless you step out of the boat! It amazes me how many “believers” know that God is speaking to them or has put something in their hearts and yet they haven’t stepped out into it because they are unsure of how it’s all going to work out. You need to let go of the need to feel in control – Jesus is Lord, not you. If He says jump, go for it! Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Don’t wonder how it will all work out. You can trust Jesus, so go for it.  I’ve heard many people say that faith is spelt: R-I-S-K! And that is largely true in the natural because faith doesn’t make sense to the carnal mind, however, if you’re trusting God and stepping out in whatever He is leading you to do, it is really no risk at all! You may not know how it will all work out, but you can trust your Shepherd to lead you towards green pastures and in paths of righteousness. You may have butterflies (nerves) or even be completely freaked out – but we don’t go by feelings we live by faith! Fear of risk or failure reveals a lack of trust in God on your part. It will paralyze you and prevent you from walking in all the success and fruitfulness that God is leading you to.
 
Those who trust in the Lord are as unshakeable, as unmovable as mighty Mount Zion!
Psalm 125:1 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
I’ve had several people contacting me over the years saying that they feel God leading them to come to Bible School or to do the internship at GraceLife in Stellenbosch. Then they start trying to figure out how it will work out. My question to them is do you need to know how it will all work out before you’re obedient to God? Imagine Peter says to Jesus, Lord if that’s You walking on the water, tell me to come to You. Jesus replies and says, Come! Most of us don’t step out on the Word of Jesus to come, but we respond to Jesus saying, but how will I walk on water, Jesus? It doesn’t make sense. Explain it to me or give me a sign and guarantee that it will work.
 
I have realized that the only guarantee you’ll have is the Word that you have from God. When I know that God is speaking to me I don’t ask for confirmation or a sign – if it smells like God I go for it! What have I got to lose? Life is short, and eternity is forever. I have one shot at this life and so I don’t want to miss it. I pray and ask God that if I am missing it He will interfere with things and take away my peace about it.
 
Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].
Colossians 3:15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
 
Trying to play it safe is more of a failure than taking bold steps of faith! You need to ask yourself, what have I got to lose? What is the worst thing that could happen? Worst-case-scenario you die and go be with Jesus for eternity – that’s not bad at all. I recently spoke with a someone who felt God leading him to a big decision which could have huge negative financial implications or an abundant harvest. They came to me a week after they felt God lead them to make the decision to ask what I thought they should do. All I could think was, delayed obedience is disobedience; why are we even having this conversation?! We tend to over analyse things because we don’t trust God.
 
I have had to make big decisions and risk a lot up and till this point in my life, and I know that there are many more big decisions and a lot more risk that lies ahead. To the carnal mind, a lot of the decisions I have made with God are completely foolish but walking with God, no matter how big the risk seems is the wisest thing you could do. The key is to walk with God and follow His leading, not your wisdom or the wisdom of the world, but His. Whenever I have made decisions with God, like planting a church, going on a mission or ministry trip, or moving (for example), I have never known how it would all work out, but I knew that it would all work out because God was leading me. Success starts in a relationship with God and flows from a place of listening to Him and doing what He says.
 
For we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes.
2 Corinthians 5:7 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
As living sacrifices, we’re living “yes, Lord” lives where we simply hear from Jesus and follow what He says. It’s our responsibility to receive the instruction that He gives. It is not our responsibility to worry about the outcome or know how it will all work out. We live by faith not according to circumstances (what we see) and not according to our feelings.