Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

It’s called atychiphobia.  Common symptoms include anxiety, avoidance, and indecisiveness.  You and I know it as fear of failure.

Fear of failure can limit us in our personal and professional lives.  We live less than, failsafe lives out of our own limited capability and courage.  But when we aim low in our spiritual lives, we miss out on living in the infinite greatness of God.

John McCandlish Phillips was a legendary reporter for the New York Times. He was also an outspoken follower of Jesus who kept a Bible on his desk at the Times. Phillips challenged Jesus-followers to undertake things for God’s Kingdom that they were sure they couldn’t accomplish. “You are called,” he said, “not to do which is possible to you—but to do what is impossible to you apart from His help.” Warning of false security of “engaging in something that we know we can by in without significant help from God,” Phillips pointed out that “millions of Christians have such security it would appear but cheat themselves out of discovering the higher security of real dependance, not on things or circumstances, but on Him.”[1]

We forget that God who lives in us asks, “Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).  What “impossible” things would you attempt if you believed Ephesians 3:20 that says, “God…through his mighty power at work within us” [is able] to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think?” His strength is the failsafe match for your weakness.

[1] Phillips, John McCandlish, Author’s Personal Notes, 1981.