Hi friend,
That tight knot in your stomach when you think about trying something new (or even continuing something you’ve already started) can feel so heavy. If anxiety fear of failure has been whispering lies about your worth or keeping you stuck, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s open God’s Word together and let His truth quiet those fears.
Open up your Bible and let’s read Psalm 37:23-24 together.
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.” (ESV)
When Fear of Falling Keeps Us Frozen
Notice how the psalm doesn’t say if he falls. It says though he fall. God knows we’re going to stumble sometimes. A project doesn’t go as planned, a relationship hits a rough patch, or we simply don’t measure up to the perfect picture in our heads. But the fear that grips us isn’t really about the fall itself. It’s the dread of being left there, exposed and alone.
Yet right here, God promises something tender: He upholds us. He doesn’t stand far off, waiting for us to prove we can get back up on our own. His hand is already reaching, steadying us before we even hit the ground. That changes everything, doesn’t it?
Our Steps Are Established by a Loving Father
The beginning of the passage tells us our steps are established by the Lord. Every single one, even the confident strides and the shaky ones, are ordered by Him. He isn’t surprised by our missteps or scrambling to fix our mistakes. He’s the One who laid out the path, knowing exactly where we’d need His grip the most.
When anxiety about failing rises, it often comes from believing the lie that everything depends on us getting it right. But if God is the One establishing our way, then even what feels like failure to us can be part of His gentle shaping. He delights in our way. This is not because we’re flawless, but because we’re His.
Held Secure in His Upholding Hand
I love the image of God upholding us with His hand. It’s personal, close, strong. Like a father catching his child who’s learning to walk. There’s no shame in the stumble when loving arms are already there.
This promise doesn’t erase the reality of setbacks, but it removes the terror. We can step forward, whether it’s into that conversation, that dream, or that obedience, knowing the outcome isn’t ultimately on our shoulders. The Lord holds us. We won’t be cast headlong.
A Simple Breath Prayer for Today
When fear of failure starts to creep in, try this gentle breath prayer:
Inhale slowly: “Lord, You establish my steps.”
Exhale slowly: “And You uphold me when I fall.”
Repeat it a few times, letting His truth settle deeper than the anxiety.
If you’d like some calming tools to support your quiet moments, you might enjoy my curated list of Stress & Worry Relief Coloring Books for Adults. Perfect for unwinding with peaceful, mindful designs when your mind needs a gentle break.
Closing Prayer
Father,
Thank You for knowing every step I’ll take before I do and for loving me enough to establish them Yourself. When anxiety fear of failure makes me want to shrink back, remind me that You delight in my way and that even if I fall, Your hand is already holding me. Help me trust Your grip more than my own strength. Give me courage to keep walking forward, resting in the truth that I am never cast headlong because I am Yours.
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen.
If this brought a little peace to your heart today, you might also appreciate my recent post: Bible Verses to Relieve Holiday Anxiety and Stress.
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