Are You Afraid of Success?

Have you heard that before? Maybe somebody asked you? I always thought success was something everyone wanted and could more easily understand the fear of failure. Most often, the fear of failure causes one to give up before they start to avoid failing. The fear of success includes many things, one of which makes the person fearful that they will have no happiness upon achieving their accomplishments.

The Israelites in the Old Testament lost out on the Promise Land because of their fear of success. They had been promised this land for so long; it was promised to their forefathers. It's possible that when they were so close, they seized up and couldn't go on because they didn't know how to handle such a feat. Instead of celebrating and rushing in to take what was theirs, they stopped to examine the people inhabiting their land and decided to let fear overtake them. Out of that fear, they said, "All the people we saw are of great size...We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them," (Numbers 13:32-33). At this point, there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that anyone in the land had seen those who were sent to scout it out. That means, their fear told them, "You are less than, and they will know it as soon as they see you. Stop now before you get killed." Because of their fear, they began to grumble and gripe. Have you ever been a part of a "gripe fest"? That's where all the people around you have a gripe about something and they begin to grumble about it and to "fit in," you join in. The Israelites did just that. They said, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?" (Numbers 14:2-3).

Out of everyone who was among the Israelite camp, why were Joshua and Caleb the only ones to enter the Promise Land? It was because they had learned how to take captive their thoughts and control their tongues and they said, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into the land...and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people in the land, because we will swallow them up," (Numbers 14:7-9).

Ever heard of a "but God" moment before? I was listening to the radio a few years ago, not even sure who the announcers were talking about, but some speaker was coming into town and they were playing a clip from his show. And even though I didn't pay enough attention to determine who the speaker was, what he said really stuck with me. He said that at the end of every problem, perhaps when you are at your wit's end, add the phrase, "But God." The word "but" negates everything that came before it. Think about that for a moment. If God (and there's really no "if" about it) is the creator of everything, everything, and the ruler of the universe, wouldn't you want Him to have the last say on everything in your life? Take your marriage, for example. Let's say you and your spouse are in a fight, "but God..." and the possibilities are endless. How about this: You're not sure if your son is still following after Christ like he did when he was a child, "but God..." and you can trust in that. Your friend is sick, and the doctors don't know what the outcome will be, "but God..." and you know it's in the right hands. What was that song you sang when you were little... "He's got the whole world in His hands..."

So back to Caleb & Joshua. Why were they able to say, "Their protection is gone...Do not be afraid of them"? I think they were wiser than many of the others. I think they had a "but God" moment. They saw God as being bigger than one who would lead the way for a while, but then leave them once they arrived at "the destination," like some kind of tour guide. For them, God was "IT." They knew He was everything and that with Him there was nothing to fear.

Are you afraid of failure? Of success? Don't be. Add God to your every situation. That may sound easier said than done, but isn't that what faith is? Isn't faith adding God to your every situation and then just believing? "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," (Hebrews 11:1). Instead of living by or out of fear, try living by faith and see how the things that you've hoped for will develop, and see what kind of "but God" moment you might have...