I Am Because You Are August 25, 2025 Devotional

JOHN 21:1-3 | ¹ After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way. ² Gathered there together were Simon      Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just as there is a blessed fear, there are also debilitating fears. These forms of fear diminish our capacity to serve, love, work, and relate.

One such fear is the fear of failure. The haunting suspicion that we are inadequate in the face of a task or a challenge. Such an emotion can prevent us engaging with a problem, addressing an issue, or facing an obstacle or opponent. Frozen by fear, our anxiety about failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The result is a cascading loss. Opportunities to grow, heal, bless, or overcome are missed. Problems and divisions continue, injustice triumphs.

Notice Peter, aware of the Resurrection, has gone back to his former vocation of fishing.

Have you ever been impacted by fear of failure?

Gracious God,

Remind us that each of us is adequate for our own individual calling, when we pursue it with You.

Amen.