Real talk: have you ever intentionally NOT set goals because you were secretly afraid you wouldn’t hit them?
(No judgment here – we’ve done the same!)
You already know how this works, right? You set ambitious support raising goals, lay out your plans, and begin a campaign with high hopes.
Yet, as the campaign progresses, the looming possibility of not meeting those goals starts to weigh heavily on your mind.
Yes, some people may have sent in some support… awesome! You may have had some bigger donations come in… amazing!
But you still wonder if you’re going to hit your OVERALL goal.
Last week on our blog, we talked about rejection. If we had to differentiate between the fear of rejection vs. the fear of failure, we’d say that:
#1. Rejection stops you before you start. It’s the fear of hearing “no,” which prevents you from even making the attempt. This fear keeps potential partnerships and resources undiscovered.
#2. Failure, on the other hand, happens after action. You’ve made the ask, launched the campaign, and still fall short. It’s disheartening, especially when initial support doesn’t reach your ultimate goal.
Consider Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). His stepping out of the boat was an action amidst fear—akin to facing the fear of failure. He succeeded briefly before fear made him sink.
He failed after taking action, unlike the other disciples who stayed in the boat, overwhelmed by the potential rejection of their faith.
In short:
Fear of rejection prevents you from starting. It stops you from stepping out of the boat.
Fear of failure makes you hesitant to continue walking once you’ve started. It’s a test of faith and persistence.
“Failure” in fundraising doesn’t reflect on your worth or your mission’s value. It indicates a need for strategy refinement, better supporter understanding, or improved timing.
In the kingdom, success isn’t measured by funds raised or projects completed. It’s measured by faithfulness and obedience.
So, let’s replace one “F-word” with another.
Let’s replace “failure” with “faithfulness.” Keep pressing forward, learning, adapting, and trusting that your efforts are not in vain.
Keep setting goals. Keep writing those updates to your supporters. Keep learning and leveling up your skills. Stay faithful in stewarding the call of God on your life.
We are praying for you!
