But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’” – Deuteronomy 1:42, NIV
Has God given you a God-sized assignment? Maybe He has called you to start a new business, minister to a unique group of people, or make an unconventional career change. When you consider the skills you lack that are normally required to be successful, the assignment can seem overwhelming. In these moments, have the faith to succeed instead of fearing failure.
Deuteronomy 1:26-46 recounts the Israelites’ response to God’s command for them to take possession of the promised land. God had guaranteed their victory. However, after learning about who lived on the land, the Israelites became fearful of failing. God was angry that His people refused to obey Him. He forbade an entire generation from entering the promised land except for Caleb, a man who “followed the Lord wholeheartedly”. Realizing the weight of their mistake, the Israelites tried to follow God’s instructions. The Lord was no longer with them. They were defeated by their enemies and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.
The failure we fear of pursuing a God-sized assignment will only happen if we disobey God. Much like the Israelites, any refusal to follow God leads to a departure from His course for our lives. We end up in a stagnant cycle where we miss out on what He had planned to do for and through us. Do not be mistaken: our obedience cannot be delayed or constructed on our own terms. This still leads to failure.
God-sized assignments are intentionally used to draw us out of our comfort zones. There, God strengthens our relationship with Him by revealing His power and our purpose in life. Successful completion of an assignment is not based on our abilities, but rather God’s. He gives us the wisdom, knowledge, and favor needed to be successful. It becomes easy to trust God if we remember Luke 1:37 (NIV) which says, “no word from God will ever fail”. We succeed when we follow God’s plan, for He fulfills all of His promises.
If you disobeyed God because you feared failure, ask Him for forgiveness. Repent for operating in a spirit of fear instead of faith. Begin to consistently seek God in prayer. He will give you a new opportunity to pursue a God-sized assignment. Once it arrives, have the faith to succeed!
Join me in prayer: Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to serve You. Thank You for the purpose that you have for my life and the assignments you place me on to fulfill it. I desire to obey You. Show me how to resist the fear of failure. Help me to place my faith in You. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
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