How To Overcome Fear Of Failure – Remembering Who God Is

Fear of failure is one of the things that can keep us from stepping into things that we want to pursue but that feel too big for us at the moment. Here are some thoughts about how to overcome fear of failure, and not letting fear dictate our lives.

Over the years I have been blessed to walk alongside many wise people who really have helped me to analyze why I make the decisions I make. I think we sometimes don’t really reflect on why we make the decisions we make.

Fear is one of these things that all of us experience but it’s triggered by different things for different people. For some of us, fear of failure can be a thing that keeps us from making decisions based on faith instead of fear.

How To Overcome Fear Of Failure – An Example From The Bible

One of the people from the Old Testament that was challenged to take on a big task was Moses. In Exodus Chapter 3 we can read about how God is calling Moses to go to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

The Israelites that through Joseph had come to Egypt grew in number and in Exodus Chapter 2 we can read that the Israelites filled the land. Out of fear, the leaders in Egypt put the Israelites under oppression, forced them into labor and put slave masters in charge of them.

God sees the oppression of his people and is concerned about their suffering.

“The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”
Exodus 3:7

The cry of the Israelites was heard and God meets Moses in the burning bush and tells him to go to Pharaoh to bring his people out of Egypt.

“And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.””
Exodus 3:9-10

So God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. I think we can all read this story from different perspectives and some of us may think, “Wow! What an honor to be the one that God asks to lead his people out of Egypt!”

The Response Of Moses When God Calls Him

But the response of Moses was not that excited. In verses 11 and 12 we can see that Moses wasn’t sure if he was the right man for the task.

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:11-12

Moses’ response to God was doubtful. He asks God: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Moses has this encounter with God at a time when he had fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian, so part of his doubt surely came from that reason.

We can also read that Moses didn’t see himself as eloquent. He saw himself as slow to speech and tongue.

“Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.””
Exodus 4:10

God’s Response To Moses

The way God responds to Moses is the way I think God also meets us in moments when we can feel doubtful about weather we really have what it takes for the task that is before us. God tells Moses that He will be there with him.

As humans, we sometimes have the tendency to focus on our own capacity and limitations. But when God calls us we are brought to a partnership with him where he is our provider.

So sometimes it’s obvious that we will be doubtful if we analyze our capability of completing the task that is handed to us by God only by looking at ourselves. But God makes it clear to Moses that He will be with them.

If Moses is confident in who God is, that God is all-powerful and good, he will also be confident in that he together with God will be able to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

So when we are making life-decisions we get to have that same perspective. God wants to partner with us and be our provider in the tasks that he calls us to.

What Is God Calling Us To?

During the last moments that Jesus spent on this earth, he talked with his disciples and he told them to go out and make disciples of all nations.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20

These verses are called the great commission and this is something that every one of us gets to be a part of. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to go and make disciples of all nations. He also tells them that he will be with them to the very end of age.

Even before telling them to go out, Jesus says that they are to do so because all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. So we are not sent out because of our capability but through the power and authority that Jesus gives us.

How To Overcome Fear Of Failure By Keeping Our Eyes On Jesus

I think one of the most effective ways to not let fear of failure dictate our lives is to keep our focus on the power and authority that Jesus gives us instead of doing things in our own strength.

Sometimes we try to carry things that aren’t meant for us to carry. Making Jesus Lord in our lives really makes us rest in a way that keeps fear from having power over our decision-making.

Encouraging Bible Verses About Faith Over Fear

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3

The Psalmist in Psalm 56 tells it so honestly. “When I am afraid”, the word “when” tells us that the Psalmist did face times when he felt fear. We can’t expect that we won’t have moments when we feel afraid. We will face times that trigger fear, fear is a very natural part of life. But what we do in those times really affects the outcome.

“I put my trust in you.” is the conclusion David makes and that is also where we can find courage and rest in times when fear creeps in.

Remembering What Is True

Last year we posted a blog post with encouraging Bible verses in times of fear. Here is a link to that blog post if you want to read more about how to not let fear have power over your life: https://underbartskapad.com/bookmarks-with-bible-verses-faith-over-fear/

We hope that this blog post was an encouragement to you. We publish new blog posts regularly so you are welcome back soon!

Many blessings from us at Wonderfully Made