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The Fear of Failure

Peter’s Failures:

Failure #1: Faithlessness

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
—Matthew 14:31 (NLT)

Failure #2: Rebuke

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
—Matthew 16:22-23 (NLT)

Failure #3: Pride

Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.
—Matthew 26:33-35 (NLT)

Failure #4: Asleep at the Wheel

Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
—Matthew 26:45-46 (NLT)

Failure #5: Violent Overreaction

Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”
—John 18:10-11 (NLT)

Failure #6: Disowned Jesus

Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
—Matthew 26:75 (NLT)

Two Lessons on the Fear of Failure:

Failure is a “What” Not a “Who”

Failure is a Place for “Restoration” not “Rejection”

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
—John 21:15-17 (NLT)