A few weeks ago, my daughter celebrated her birthday. For months she had been counting down to the big day and weekly, I was getting reminders that we needed to plan her party. Finally, I was ready to start planning and I asked her what kind of party she wanted. I was quite shocked when she said she wanted a skating party. Can she skate? Not at all! Was she willing to try? Absolutely, she was not going to let her fear hold her back.
The big day was here and she laced up her skates and announced that she was ready to skate. But skating was not what happened when she got out there. Falling happened, and it kept on happening. I would have folded my hands and sat on the sidelines or found something that I knew I was good at and tried that instead. But not her; she tried and tried and tried to skate. She also fell down and got up and fell down and got up and fell down again. And with each fall, I could see her pushing back the tears.
But she was determined to keep trying. Even when she burst out in tears after what seemed like her 1000th fall and she declared that she no longer wanted to try, I still admired the fighter in her. After all of that, I surely thought that she would retire her skates, but a few days ago she cheerfully announced that she was ready to go skating again.
It was then that I realized how much of a coward I can be when things are scary or unfamiliar to me. I realized how my fear of falling, my fear of getting hurt, my fear of not being perfect, my fear of what others would say about me held me back from what was most important – trying.
My daughter exhibited the resilience I need to have in my life. She had the courage that I often times don’t have. The courage to stand up after falling for the 1000th time and try again, the courage to keep going even when nothing seems to be working out the way I envisioned it. Try, fall, maybe cry, scream, vent, get up, try, fall, try again and repeat until I get to where God called me to be.
I’ve been scared to fail. I’ve been terrified of falling and I’ve been dreading the shame of getting up after each fall. I’ve been focused on those who were skating so perfectly that I missed the steps I needed to take to learn. I’ve been so focused on the fact that others would be looking at me trying and they would snicker when I fall that I forgot to try.
What are you afraid of doing? What’s stopping you from trying to do it anyway? Is it fear of being embarrassed or laughed at? Fear of falling? Fear of looking like a novice? Are you afraid to trust again? Will you purpose to try? And if the results are not what you wished for the first time, ask God to show you what He is teaching you each time and keep going.
When Jesus told Peter to step out and walk on water in Matthew 14:22-33, I’m sure that Peter could have thought of reasons why it wouldn’t work, reasons why he would be unsuccessful. But he did it anyway. Yes, in the process, he grew afraid and almost sank. But he kept his eyes on Jesus’ hand and continued to follow Jesus’ voice despite the wind, waves, and the other disciples watching.
So as I look at the fears and struggles I face today, I vow to step out anyway. I’m going to do it anyway. Yes, it will be uncomfortable, awkward, scary, and maybe even tense. Yes, there are many things that could go wrong, but how many things could go right?
Why should we ditch our fear of failing? Because fear keeps us from trying. And when we don’t try, we don’t gain experiences, we don’t change and we don’t grow. NO ONE has ever lived life to the fullest potential by sitting with folded hands in a safe little corner. NO ONE has ever impacted lives by doing nothing. NO ONE!
Lord, when I’m faced when tough challenges, I’m often afraid of failing and falling. Help me to realize that Your hands are always there to catch me and guide me to safety.
Comment below and let me know what you vow to try. Just try!
