So... today I'm reviewing a chapter from Angie Smith's new book "What Women Fear" that my small group is reading together. We talked about Chapter 4 this past week which is about the Fear of Failure. Holy Cow, could I relate to that, or what??
Angie tells the story of finding her father's painting easel up in his study one morning after years of not having time to paint. There was a fresh canvas up along with a pile of art books stacked on his desk. When she expressed her excitement to him about his venture back into painting, he seemed hesitant.
(from Angie's book)
"So you're just reading about it, huh? Not really ready to do it yet", I said.
He shook his head.
"No, babe. I'm way too rusty. I mean, I haven't held a paintbrush in years. I need to study it first and then I'll just...." He trailed off as I made a face that told him I could see right through his act.
"You're scared it's not going to turn out right, aren't you?" I smiled.
"Well, you can't just pick up a brush and start painting. You won't know what you're doing and then it'll..."
"It'll be what, Dad?" He shifted his weight and looked me in the eye.
"Well, it would be a mess." He kept his hand on the books while I grabbed the brushes.
"You need to just do it, Dad. You're so worried about failing that you're going to read yourself right into oblivion. You're not ever going to actually do anything with all this knowledge you're gaining, so it's kind of useless, don't you think?"
So easy to say about some brushes and tubes of old paint.
Not so easy to hear as a statement about your fears.
How many times have I wanted to jump into something I felt God was calling me to do, but let the fear of failure get the better of me?
How many times have I hestitated to take on a great opportunity because I was afraid I would fail?
Sometimes the fear of failure steals the beauty we were meant to create.
To me, failure means it doesn't turn out the way I wanted it to.
To God, it means I didn't pick up the brush.
"Walk humbly, boldly and gratefully in the direction you are being led, and the Lord will surely never let you fail. At least not failure as HE defines it. And what other definition should matter?
Good stuff Angie... good stuff.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:6
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