Life is always going to have "what if's'." What if I try and I fail?” "If I step out and "fall flat on my face", "If I make my big move and get rejected? "If I pray and nothing seems to happen, or I pray and it does happen and then what?"
Interestingly, all the well-known explorers, artists and forerunners also had to face their own what-ifs, and the fear of failure, disappointment, or the pain of perhaps making a mistake. But they chose to calculate the risk and do something different and outside the box anyway because the regret of not trying to them was worse than the regret of making a mistake or failing. They chose to face the what if's in life and it paid off.
There is wisdom in counting the cost and evaluating what our choices will mean, but God also doesn't want us to become stuck, limited by our fears and insecurities. He will give us wisdom and clarity if we ask and will guide and help us through our what-if questions. He promises that if we make a mistake and miss it, He will be there to prevent us from falling completely and will put our feet back on solid ground again.
"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy ". (Jude 1:24)
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you ". (James 1:5)
The LORD supports everyone who falls and raises up those who are bowed down. (Psalm 145:14)
If we learn from our mistakes, ask Jesus to heal us from any hurts and forgive us if we've messed up, we don't need to live with regrets but instead will gain a greater depth of knowledge, skills, understanding, compassion, and hopefully, character.
Don't let the what-ifs in life, the fear of making a mistake hold you back, or allow regrets from past failings to steal from your future. Learn from everything, count the cost before stepping forward, listen and ask for God's wisdom and live free from the paralysing power of what-if, or the fear of making a mistake and choose to get out there and live.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you give me the wisdom to make wise choices but that you also give me space to learn and grow. Please help me to live free from a fear of making mistakes and give me the courage to be all you have made me be. I want to really live – with no regrets! In Jesus name. Amen
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