By Joyell Nevins – CFFM Blogger
Have you ever been asked the question, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” That seems like a strong vision, a day of achieving your goals without any failure at all.
But just as the Lord never promised a life without tribulation, He never promised a life without failure. What we can live without is the fear of failure.
“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” Proverbs 24:16 NKJV
“…in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus to his disciples in John 16:33 NKJV
Throughout the Word, we are reminded that troubles will come, failure will come, but we don’t have to be afraid of that or paralyzed by that – we can stand strong in the fact that God and Jesus have got our back!
The Egg Nog
I saw this play out over the holidays in a simple, yet profound, way. One of my jobs is working at a local market, and I often stop at the coffee shop down the block before my shift. Since I’m there at about the same time(s) each week, I see the same baristas (which means I definitely have a regular chat with them!).
Fresh off of the Christmas season, I was sharing with the ladies about my mom and I’s attempt at making homemade egg nog. One of the barista’s first response was, “oh, I would be too scared I would fail to try doing that.”
I laughed it off in the moment, but later was struck by the sadness of that attitude. What is she missing out on in life because she’s afraid to try – or rather, afraid that her attempts will end in failure?
The Next Attempt
Actually, Mom and I made three specific recipes that turned into projects this Christmas season. The first one was an EPIC fail. But the last two recipes came out deliciously!
If we had been discouraged by the first rather gross result, we never would have made it to the yumminess of the other two. How many times has a similar situation happened to us?
We miss out on something good because we’re paralyzed of something bad that happened before or the thought that something might become bad. But look at what Paul declared in Corinthians:
“We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not driven to despair; persecuted, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; always carrying around in our body the putting to death of Jesus [remembering our Lord’s sacrifice], so that the life of Jesus can be made visible in our body [we have the victory!].” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 REV
Paul and his fellow laborers definitely experienced failure. But, they didn’t let that stop them from completing their purpose!
For me, I have seen this play out in jobs. I have been shunned or fired from one company, only to be promoted in another. I have been rejected as a writer one place, only to be given massive opportunity in another.
If I let the failure of one place define me, I would have missed out on some truly terrific people and places in which I’ve worked.
In relationships, if I let the hurt of one person or the failure of one relationship stop me from opening up to another person, how lonely my life would be. Rather, God has always led me to another relationship or space to love and be loved.
Through the failures and the victories, the Lord has remained faithful. I know He will be faithful to you, too. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and Jesus continues to advocate for us!
“…For He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV
We do not have to be blocked by fear of what may be or what failure may come.
Walk in wisdom? Yes.
Walk in fear? Never!
For more encouragement of how to endure and have victory through life’s challenges, read From the Struggle Bus to the Victory Van.