Overcoming the Fear of Failure Through Faith

 

Summary

Continuing our series on God's amazing promises, today we focus on His promises when we fear failure. Many of us may not recognize this fear in our lives, but it manifests in various ways, such as worrying about others' opinions, doubting our abilities, or procrastinating. This fear can paralyze our potential, limit our purpose, and rob us of happiness. Jesus addressed this in the parable of the talents, illustrating how fear of failure can lead to inaction and missed opportunities.

In the parable, a master entrusts his wealth to three servants. Two of them invest and double their talents, while the third, driven by fear, hides his talent. The master praises the first two for their faithfulness and rewards them with greater responsibilities. However, the third servant is reprimanded for his inaction. This story teaches us that God expects us to use our talents for His glory and the benefit of others. Playing it safe and not taking risks for God's kingdom is not pleasing to Him.

To overcome the fear of failure, we must remember that everyone fails in many ways. Failure is not final unless we give up. It is a path to success if we are humble and willing to learn from it. The Bible encourages resilience, as seen in Proverbs 24:16, which states that a righteous person may fall seven times but rises again. History is filled with examples of individuals who failed repeatedly but ultimately succeeded because they persevered.

We must also recognize that failure is an opportunity for growth and learning. By admitting our mistakes and learning from them, we gain another chance to succeed. Failure should be seen as an education rather than a setback. As we trust in God's promises and step out in faith, we can overcome the fear of failure and fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Fear of Failure's Impact: The fear of failure can paralyze potential and limit our purpose. It prevents us from becoming all that God intends for us to be, robbing us of happiness and success. Recognizing this fear is the first step to overcoming it. [02:58]

- The Parable of the Talents: Jesus' parable teaches that God expects us to use our talents for His glory. Playing it safe and not taking risks for God's kingdom is not pleasing to Him. We must invest our talents and trust in God's promises. [06:30]

- Everyone Fails: Failure is a universal experience. Recognizing that everyone fails in many ways can reduce the fear of failure. It is not a big deal, and we should not let it define us. [14:01]

- Failure is Not Final: Failure is not fatal or final unless we give up. The fear of failure is often worse than failure itself. We must persevere and trust that God can use our failures for good. [16:24]

- Learning from Failure: Failure is a path to success if we are humble and willing to learn from it. By admitting our mistakes and learning from them, we gain another chance to succeed. Failure should be seen as an education. [24:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to God's Promises
- [00:28] - Recognizing Fear of Failure
- [00:42] - Nine Tests of Fear of Failure
- [02:11] - The Impact of Fear of Failure
- [03:33] - The Parable of the Talents
- [05:06] - Servants' Responses to Talents
- [06:30] - God's Expectation of Our Talents
- [07:26] - The Consequence of Inaction
- [09:25] - Principle of Using Talents
- [10:36] - Risk and Faith
- [13:26] - Four Truths to Remember
- [14:01] - Everyone Fails
- [16:24] - Failure is Not Final
- [24:12] - Learning from Failure

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents)
- Proverbs 24:16 ("For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again...")
- James 3:2 ("We all stumble in many ways...")

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#### Observation Questions
1. In the Parable of the Talents, what were the different actions taken by the three servants with the talents they were given? How did the master respond to each servant's actions? [05:49]
2. According to the sermon, what are some common symptoms of the fear of failure that people might experience? [02:11]
3. How does the sermon describe the impact of the fear of failure on a person's potential and purpose? [02:58]
4. What does Proverbs 24:16 suggest about the nature of failure and resilience?

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the Parable of the Talents teach about God's expectations for how we use our abilities and resources? How does this relate to the fear of failure? [06:30]
2. How might the fear of failure prevent someone from fulfilling their God-given purpose, according to the sermon? [02:58]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that failure can be a path to success if approached with humility and a willingness to learn? [24:12]
4. How does the concept of resilience, as mentioned in Proverbs 24:16, apply to the Christian life and overcoming failure?

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when the fear of failure held you back from pursuing an opportunity. What steps can you take to overcome this fear in the future? [02:11]
2. The sermon mentions that failure is not final unless we give up. How can you apply this mindset to a current challenge you are facing? [16:24]
3. Consider the talents and abilities God has entrusted to you. Are there any that you have been "burying" out of fear? What practical steps can you take to start using them for God's glory? [07:57]
4. How can you cultivate resilience in your life, especially when facing setbacks or failures? What role does faith play in this process? [18:11]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you have experienced failure. What lessons have you learned from this experience, and how can you use these lessons to grow and succeed in the future? [24:12]
6. The sermon suggests that playing it safe does not please God. What is one risk you feel called to take for God's kingdom, and how can you prepare to take that step of faith? [10:36]
7. How can you support others in your community who are struggling with the fear of failure? What encouragement or resources can you offer them? [12:44]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing the Paralyzing Power of Fear
Fear of failure can be a silent force that paralyzes our potential and limits our purpose. It often manifests in subtle ways, such as worrying about others' opinions, doubting our abilities, or procrastinating. This fear can prevent us from becoming all that God intends for us to be, robbing us of happiness and success. Recognizing this fear is the first step to overcoming it. By acknowledging its presence, we can begin to address it and move forward in faith. [02:58]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where fear of failure holds you back. How can you invite God into this space to help you overcome it today?


Day 2: Investing Talents for God's Glory
The parable of the talents teaches us that God expects us to use our talents for His glory and the benefit of others. Playing it safe and not taking risks for God's kingdom is not pleasing to Him. The two servants who invested their talents were praised and rewarded, while the one who hid his talent out of fear was reprimanded. This story encourages us to step out in faith, trusting in God's promises, and to invest our talents in ways that honor Him. [06:30]

Matthew 25:29 (ESV): "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Reflection: What talent or gift has God given you that you have been hesitant to use? How can you take a step of faith to invest it for His kingdom this week?


Day 3: Embracing the Universality of Failure
Failure is a universal experience, and recognizing that everyone fails in many ways can reduce the fear of failure. It is not a big deal, and we should not let it define us. Instead, we can see failure as a part of the human experience and an opportunity to grow. By understanding that failure is common, we can approach it with a healthier perspective, knowing that it does not diminish our worth or potential in God's eyes. [14:01]

James 3:2 (ESV): "For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent failure. How can you reframe it as a learning opportunity rather than a defining moment?


Day 4: Persevering Through Failure
Failure is not fatal or final unless we give up. The fear of failure is often worse than failure itself. We must persevere and trust that God can use our failures for good. The Bible encourages resilience, reminding us that a righteous person may fall seven times but rises again. By persevering through failure, we can grow stronger in our faith and character, trusting that God is with us every step of the way. [16:24]

Micah 7:8 (ESV): "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me."

Reflection: Think of a time when you wanted to give up after failing. How can you choose to persevere and trust God to bring good out of it?


Day 5: Learning and Growing from Failure
Failure is a path to success if we are humble and willing to learn from it. By admitting our mistakes and learning from them, we gain another chance to succeed. Failure should be seen as an education rather than a setback. As we trust in God's promises and step out in faith, we can overcome the fear of failure and fulfill the purpose He has for our lives. [24:12]

Proverbs 19:20 (ESV): "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

Reflection: What is one lesson you have learned from a past failure? How can you apply this lesson to your current situation to move forward in faith?

Quotes

The fear of failure will paralyze your potential. It will keep you from becoming all God intends for you to be. It will limit your purpose in life. The fear of failure is deathly. It will kill your dreams if you let them. It will rob your happiness. It will prevent your success. It can keep you single if you want to get married. The fear of failure—I could give you a hundred negative things that the fear of failure does in your life. [00:02:58]

Now the servant who was entrusted with five talents went at once and used his money to gain back five more talents. In other words, he doubled his money. He made 100% on his investment. Pretty good, pretty good investment. He had five, now he's got 10. In the same way, the servant who was given entrusted two talents put his talents of money to work, and he gained two more. Again, he gets 100% return on his money, doubles his money. [00:05:09]

The servant who had been given just one talent said, "I was afraid I'd lose it." Now, if you're taking notes, circle on your outline the word "afraid" because this is the fear of failure. He said, "I was afraid I'd lose what you gave me, so I hid your talent, the talent that you gave me." In other words, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I played it safe. [00:07:33]

You never please God by playing it safe. You never please God by playing it safe. Now follow me on the logic of this: if you don't take any risks in life, you don't need any faith. And if you don't have any faith, then at that point, you are being unfaithful. Let me say it again: if you're not taking any risks in your life for the benefit of other people, for the glory of God, you're not taking any risk, then you don't need any faith. [00:10:36]

Remember, everybody fails in many ways. That's a fear reducer. When I realize I'm not the only one, everybody, every single person in the world fails in many, many different ways. The failure rate of human beings is 100%. No one is perfect. We are all flawed. If there was a club for failures, we could all join. We're all qualified to join a club for failures. [00:14:01]

Remember, no failure is final unless I give up. No failure is final unless I give up. Now, failure is not fatal. It's not going to kill you. It's not terminal. It's not deadly. Failure is not fatal, and failure is not final unless you choose to go, "Okay, I'm giving up. I'm not even going to try." And that's your fault. [00:16:24]

The fear of failure is far worse in your life than failure. Failure is not a big deal, but the fear of failure is a really big deal. It's worse than failure. Fearing failure is worse than actually failing. Why? Because failure is a one-time shot, but fear of failure just goes on and on and on. It haunts you for hours and days and weeks and months and even years. [00:16:40]

For even though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. Now, what I like about this is it says even good guys stumble. Even righteous people fall. Even godly people make mistakes. He's saying righteous people fall, and they don't just fall once; they fall seven times. What makes a righteous person righteous? They get back up. They don't stay down. [00:17:44]

Failure is the path to success if I'm humble and willing to learn from it. If I'm humble and willing to learn from it, failure is the path to success. Now, there is no other path to success except through failure. Failure is the door to success. It's how you become a success. Nobody just has success without any failures unless you just get lucky once. [00:24:12]

A man who refuses to admit his mistakes will never be successful. Okay, you're not learning from it, and you're not admitting them. But if he confesses and forsakes them—in other words, you learn from your mistakes—he gets another chance. There are some things in life you only learn from failure. You can't learn them any other way. [00:24:40]

If there's some things you only learn from failure, you should stop calling it a failure and start calling it an education. Some of us are highly educated. [00:25:04]

What God gives you is his gift to you, those talents. What you do with your talents is your gift back to God. So how can I neutralize the fear of failure in my life? Well, first, there are four things you need to remember. Write these down. Number one, the first thing to remember is that everybody fails in many ways. [00:13:26]

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Transcript
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