It’s Ok To Mess Up

Read

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Think

Oreo, one of the world’s most iconic cookies, made $4.3 billion in global revenue in 2022. But behind that success story are over 60 failed flavors—candy corn, Swedish fish, jelly donut, and even wasabi Oreos. Imagine that! Yet, Oreo didn’t stop because of those failures. They kept going, learning from their mistakes. There’s a powerful lesson: failure often teaches us far more than success. But fear? Fear can stop us dead in our tracks. Fear can paralyze our vision faster than failure ever could. Just look at the Israelites. What should have been an 11-day journey to the Promised Land took them 40 years because they let fear call the shots. How often do we let fear do the same to us, dragging out what God intended to be much shorter?

The Bible repeatedly tells us, “Fear not,” but it doesn’t leave us there. Every time God commands us not to fear, he follows it with this beautiful promise: “For I am with you.” We don’t have to be fearless because of our strength, knowledge, or accomplishments. The source of our courage is this simple truth: God is with us. His presence changes everything. There is a deep freedom in knowing that no matter how often we fail, we are never alone. Fear blinds us to God’s goodness, but when we trust him, our eyes are opened to see his hand guiding us through every trial, every failure.

Every hero in the Bible had their moments of failure. Moses doubted, David sinned, Peter denied Jesus. Yet, what sets them apart wasn’t perfection—it was perseverance. They didn’t quit when they messed up; they got back up, humbled themselves, and kept going. They trusted that God’s mercy was bigger than their mistakes. G.K. Chesterton once said, “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” The truth is anything worth doing for God will involve failure along the way. But those failures are not the end. They’re the steps God uses to shape and prepare us for something greater.

So, when fear starts to creep in and failure seems overwhelming, remember this: God isn’t asking for perfection. He’s asking for your trust. Keep showing up. Keep moving forward. Let God take your failures, your fears, and transform them into something far greater than you could ever imagine.

Apply

What step of faith have you been holding back on? Have you been baptized? Have you gone to a membership class? Have you joined a ministry team? Don’t let fear hold you back!

Pray

Lord, I confess that fear has held me back in areas of my life, and I’ve been afraid to fail. But I know you are with me, and your presence gives me courage. Help me to trust you more and to take the steps you’re calling me to, even when I’m afraid. Give me strength to move forward, knowing you go before me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.