Afraid to Try Again

READ: PSALM 73:23-26; LUKE 5:1-11; HEBREWS 10:24; 12:1-3

It was the first and last time I played the piano at school. Halfway through the song, everyone was laughing. I fought back tears while my teacher studied the piano and identified the problem. Someone had placed clear tape across the keys. When I pressed one key, four more went with it. It sounded terrible! Worse yet, I was too afraid to try again.

Have you ever failed at something and then let fear keep you from giving it another go? It could be waterskiing, auditioning for the play, starting a Bible study with your soccer team, or raising your hand in class—because after your last answer, the upperclassmen gave you the worst nickname ever, and it stuck. Trying again is risky. You might fail again.

Peter gets it. In Luke 5, Peter and his friends fished all night and failed to catch anything. When Jesus told him to try again, Peter said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). Peter looked to Jesus and tried again. This time, they caught so many fish the nets started to break, and two boats nearly sank.

But Peter’s story isn’t a promise that you’ll be successful. There’s no guarantee that if you give it another go, you’ll be a pro on water skis or secure the starring role in the play. Nope. Because Peter’s story isn’t about Peter. It’s about Jesus and what He can do.

When we are afraid to try again, we can talk to Jesus about it. He knows what it’s like to be humiliated, so He can empathize with us. If our failure includes sin, Jesus reminds us that, once we’ve put our trust in Him, He has already secured our forgiveness by dying and rising again. We can rely on Him for comfort, and also for courage to try again. He is for us, and He will help us do whatever He calls us to.

If we know Jesus, then even when we mess up or fall short, failure doesn’t define us—Jesus does. As we rely on His love, we can take a deep breath and try again. • Lenae Bulthuis

• What are you afraid to try again? Why? What might you miss out on if you never try again?

• Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds us that to keep running the race of life, we need Jesus and His people. Who are trusted Christians who can help you get up again when you fall? Consider talking to them about your fears and asking for their encouragement, prayers, and help.

• If you want to dig deeper, read about more of Peter’s failures and Jesus’s responses in Matthew 14:22-33; 16:21-23; 26:31-35; Luke 22:49-51, 54-62; John 18:10-11; 21:1-25; Galatians 2:11-21.

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (CSB)