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Have you ever felt like a failure? We all have at one time or the other. However, there is a way to experience failure but still have peace. Facing our failures takes faith in God. There are times that no person on earth can counsel you; only God has the answer.

This is the first article of my website. I've revised it a little since I first wrote it. There are many more articles in this website that deal with problems everyone faces, not just Christians. I also wrote several articles in which I try to give solid evidence that God exists and all that the Bible states is true. In additon, I offer encouragement and suggestions to Christians who struggle everyday, as I do, to be the very best child of God that they can.

God has taught me a great deal since I've been overseas as a missionary teacher. I wish to share what God has shown me in hope that it will bring joy and contentment to others, esp. when failure has seemingly stripped away self-esteem and confidence. Fear is one of the biggest causes of failure in our lives. So, let's take a look at fear.


What Is Fear?

Fear is the root cause of all the self-defeating feelings we get. This world is drenched in fear. Think about it. Most animals and people are terrified of each other. Even the tiniest bug plays dead in the crack of the sidewalk or runs for its life for fear of being stepped on. Nations are scared richer or crazier ones are going to nuke them. Employees fear their bosses may critcize, demote, or fire them. Children often fear parent(s), bullies, sibilings, plus the taller than a house teacher with the Medusa stare. Let's not forget the teens; they seem to have the most concerns: They fear not being special, but they can't be too different either or they lose acceptance. They can never look too intelligent cause then they're called a nerd, or if they act too dumb they're an airhead. Farmers fear it won't rain enough while people in coastal and low-lying areas fear it will rain too much. People have all kinds of fear of natural disasters.

WHERE DOES FEAR COME FROM?

I can tell you for sure it didn't start way back when some creepy, crawly thing slid out of a slimey swamp and turned into a monkey eventually. Well, the crawly thing was a single-celled molecule of some kind first. Did the molecule feel fear? Absolutely not! So,the ability to fear must have been put into thinking creatures by some Higher Being. The Holy Bible records the first fear when Adam and Eve sinned and had to face the music. The Bible clearly states they hid from God. They were afraid.

"That evening they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden; and they hid themselves among the trees." Genesis 3:8

Adam and Eve felt guilty because of their disobedience. Fear causes guilt which causes feelings of unworthiness, anxiety, depression, and a whole host of bad stuff that saps us of the strength to follow God's plan for our lives. Then we feel like a failure. I'm not even going to go into what it does to the body. Fear is felt only by beings that can think. A microscopic cell cannot think. By the way, who created the cell? Science can duplicate, but has never been able to create from nothing. The first people were created by God in His image capable of emotions. God's original plan was a paradise inhabited by happy people living in perfect harmony with animals and nature without any unnecessary fear. All God wanted was to love and take care of His two most precious creations. The choice was not just whether to eat or not eat the forbidden fruit; the choice was whether or not to return God's love. God IS love; it's Who He is. Every single thing He does is out of love; even when He punishes, it's the love of a Father disciplining a rebellious child for his own good. Fear happens when we are not close to God, and it started in that garden long ago.

HOW DO WE GET RID OF FEAR?

The first thing we must do is face our fear. Running from fear of failure, for example, does not solve the problem. Sometimes God will ask us to do something that seems unthinkable or even strange. That's happened to me. As long as we know that we are doing God's will, there is no reason to fear. Know that when facing failure, you must look within for the cause. Don't blame God or others. God only wants what's best for you. He has a plan for your life, and if you simply ask Him what it is, He will tell you. His answer may not be clear because you have become distant from God, or your relationship with Him has been temporarily broken due to your lack of Bible study and prayer, or sin. I find that even if I go one day without talking to God and reading my Bible, I start to feel myself becoming distant from God.

When we pray it energizes us to get up and take action on God's will and thus overcome our fear of certain failure. When you feel overwhelmed, read the following verses and keep them close to your heart:

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

"When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." (Micah 7:8)

"Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee." (Psalm 50:15)

We can't do everything alone; we sometimes need help to overcome our fears and our failures. However, God can do anything, and He will help us. "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (Luke:1:37)

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you,for I am your God. I will strengthen you,surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

There are different kinds of fear. I'm dealing here primarily with manmade fears, but I should mention that fearing God Almighty is healthy. You do not want to fall under the wrath of the Creator. With that said, I wonder who's thinking, "I don't believe in the Bible or God." That's your choice, even if it's a foolish one. Just because you do not believe, doesn't mean it's so. We live in a cruel world where there is so much fear. Without God, life will be much more difficult. How will you get through your failures without assurance from someone higher than yourself that all will be alright?

Often fear is what causes our failure. At the beginning of my missionary journey, I felt a little scared, but I've learned that following God's will for my life sometimes requires risk. Selling all I owned and leaving my country to travel abroad to a foreign land where I didn't know anyone wasn't easy, but I managed okay because I knew in my heart that I was doing God's will. I knew He'd take care of me, and He has. I kept repeating to myself this promise from God: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Often God uses our failures to test us, like a metal is tested in the fire. If we endure, we can come out a stronger person with a deeper relationship with Christ. For me, God is my safety net. I wouldn't want to live without His comforting presence. Winning, in spite of failure, glorifies God because it shows how much He's helped us. The rest of the verse from Psalm mentioned above states: "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:15)

God is as close as the hairs on your head. He wants to lift you out of misery and doubt. He wants to plant courage in your heart to live a meaningful life. The Lord God loves to help everyone who calls upon His Name in truth; however, He hears a lot better if you've accepted one gift. This is the gift of eternal life. Who in their right mind woud say "no" to such a gift? Every material thing you have now will not go with you to the grave; plan for the everlasting. It's simple really. Just ask God to forgive you of all the wrong things you've done and to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to come into your heart and save you for all eternity. With this one act, you've acquired the greatest gift of all and a life worth living. Don't slap God's hand away. He's reaching out to you this very minute. HE LOVES YOU. So, when you've finally come to the end of yourself; as far down as you can go, look upwards. There IS someone who cares.

Jesus said,"Peace I leave you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" John 14:27.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that this happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You left me." The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Author Unknown


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RESOURCES: The Living Bible, Student's Life Application Study
Bible NLT, NIV Bible, Praying God's Promises(K&C
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failure by Dr. Charles Stanley

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