Failure

What is it about failure that scares us so much?

Does experiencing failure cripple you?

I know that when I try something and fail at it, I can't stop thinking about how I let people down... How disappointed I am in myself. I think that maybe I shouldn't even be in my chosen profession. A "What was I thinking" kind of thing! It takes me quite a while to be able to look back on the failure and see the lessons that I have learned. What a shame that I waste so much time dwelling on what I did wrong instead of focusing on what I learned.

This past weekend Pastor Steve preached a message called Water Walkers (you can watch it here beginning July 14). The sermon covered Matthew 14:22-32. You know it... when Peter walked on water. The one statement Pastor Steve made that is still ringing around in my head... "I would rather fail trying to do something great for God then to succeed doing nothing for God." Wow! That was a lesson I needed to learn. What am I so afraid of? Getting in trouble with the boss? Letting my friends & family down? Disappointing myself? How much more of a letdown, disappointment and failure would I be if I never tried anything? What purpose would I hold?

So I wonder... Are you willing to get out of the boat like Peter did? Are you ready to walk on water? Stop identifying the phrase "walk on water" with someone who is perfect and let's start identifying "walk on water" with someone who is willing to step out of the boat on faith!