When I was kid thunderstorms scared me to death. The loud earth-shaking boom of thunder sent me under the kitchen table with tears and fear. Now as an adult, I am a weather freak. I love to sit out in a thunderstorm or chase a hurricane down on the coast. The things that scared me then aren’t the same things that scare me now.
Have you ever thought about what you are afraid of?
I am not afraid of a man with a gun because I am not afraid to die. I am not afraid of speaking truth to someone or standing on what I believe in because I am not afraid of men. I am not afraid to pet a lion or hold a snake because I do not fear animals. (Except for roaches. I HATE ROACHES!) I am not afraid to sit in the dark, watch a scary movie or find out what that weird noise is coming from the garage because I am not afraid of Satan. However, fear is alive and well in my life.
As a 44-year-old man my greatest fear is FAILURE. I must confess to you that it is hard to admit that. It feels weird admitting my weakness on a public blog. I would much rather tell you about how strong I am, how good I am and how much I have got my act together, but that would be an illusion and a lie. I am weak and needy. I have dealt with this fear for most of my adult life, but it has not destroyed me or held me back from pursuing or attempting things that are hard or seemingly impossible.
I have found a secret, that is not really a secret, but it has delivered me from my fear. I have found my total security in Jesus Christ.
He says, “I am enough!”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
He says, “I am loved!”
1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.”
He says, “I have a plan for you!”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
When I live there the fear of failure disappears. Believing that I am in the hand of God and nothing can touch me that doesn’t first pass through His hand has given me freedom from my fear. I am confident that if the church I pastor fell apart today I am secure in Him. I am confident if I lost everything that nothing could change where I stand with Christ. Fear and faith don’t mix.
My battle with the fear of failure serves as a daily motivation to passionately pursue God. I know that without Him I can do nothing. I have forsaken all to follow. I am confident that my future is secure even though I have no idea what is ahead.
John 6:67-69 “Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
