My superstar college roommate would say, after breaking scoring records on the basketball team, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

We need to care less about failure and live more carefree because God cares. Nehemiah, a social reformer and spiritual leader, did this. He cared less about failure because, he said, “The gracious hand of my God was on me” for “what God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:8,12). 

When your God is gracious, your failures aren’t failures but learning experiences for growth.

Nehemiah faced fears of failure with passion for God. He admitted, “I was very much afraid” (Nehemiah 2:2). Whatever causes you pain and fear is a passion. As a passion for what’s important to God, it translates into courage. 

And courage says, “God, because this is important to you, it’s important to me.”

Nehemiah faced fears of failure with purpose from God. He told the king (his boss), “Send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it” (Nehemiah 2:5). Nehemiah’s ancestors were buried in Jerusalem because God gave that city a special purpose. Eventually, Jesus would die and be buried there.

When your purpose is from God, you say, “God, let’s do this!”

Trying and failing is better than failing because you never tried at all. Take intelligent, intentional risks for God because he cares.