Sewing is one of those domestic skills that I was taught when a young girl.  I learned it at the home of friend who convinced me to join a 4H group.  It was a lot of fun getting together with six other giggly girls to try and make items of clothing for ourselves.  When the course was over I thought I would continue to sew, but I soon discovered I had a problem.  I loved material.  Now you'd think that would be an asset for a person who wants to sew, but in my case it worked against me.  You see, I liked the big lengths of material as it came off the bolt - the full stretch of the pattern, the feel of it.  I liked it so much I couldn't bring myself to cut it.  What if I made a mistake?  What if the whole thing was ruined and I had to throw that lovely material away?  I just couldn't do it.  So the material sat - in a box in a closet.  I bought all my clothing ready-made.  Years later when I did decide I wanted to make something, I realized I'd forgotten a lot.  My sewing skills hadn't developed.

Fear of failure often stops us from growing.  We don't go for that promotion . . .

Sewing is one of those domestic skills that I was taught when a young girl.  I learned it at the home of friend who convinced me to join a 4H group.  It was a lot of fun getting together with six other giggly girls to try and make items of clothing for ourselves.  When the course was over I thought I would continue to sew, but I soon discovered I had a problem.  I loved material.  Now you'd think that would be an asset for a person who wants to sew, but in my case it worked against me.  You see, I liked the big lengths of material as it came off the bolt - the full stretch of the pattern, the feel of it.  I liked it so much I couldn't bring myself to cut it.  What if I made a mistake?  What if the whole thing was ruined and I had to throw that lovely material away?  I just couldn't do it.  So the material sat - in a box in a closet.  I bought all my clothing ready-made.  Years later when I did decide I wanted to make something, I realized I'd forgotten a lot.  My sewing skills hadn't developed.

Fear of failure often stops us from growing.  We don't go for that promotion at work because the new skills involved look daunting.  We don't take on volunteer positions for fear that we can't handle the load and will everyone down.  We don't take those courses that would further our education because we've been out of school so long.  It's easier just to stay where we are than take the risk.

Fear of failure often stops us from growing spiritually too.  We don't get involved in a church because we're afraid someone will find out we're not as 'holy' as we should be.  We don't take the step of faith because we're afraid we won't measure up.  And if we don't measure up we'll be rejected by people and, worst of all, by God.  We think staying where we are is safe.  Getting involved with God is a dangerous thing.  He does ask things of us and He does judge us.  But there is another aspect of God we often don't think about.  We know about his judgement and how demanding he is, but sometimes we haven't heard, or we've forgotten, about his mercy and grace.

God will never reject us because we fail.  He's in the business of redeeming what has been corrupted.  He offers us a way out of failure and misery, no matter how we've lived.  All it takes is enough courage to take the risk.  If we will put our hand in the hand of Christ and acknowledge our failures, He will not just shake our hand in fellowship, he will embrace us with forgiveness, mercy and grace.

So go ahead, cut into the cloth.  Even if you mess up, God will make it new again.

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book, The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Copyright Marcia Lee Laycock, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005