This morning, I was listening to a podcast sermon, and I thought the topic was perfect for our students and their families. In truth, the message applies to everyone: “Do not be afraid of failure.”

The speaker discussed how fear of failure has reached epidemic levels among children—something we can clearly see mirrored in the adult world. Fortunately, failure is a natural part of life.

Consider the apostle Peter, one of the most influential disciples. It was Peter to whom Jesus said, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Yet this same trusted disciple famously failed—denying Christ not once, but three times (John 18:15–27). In many ways, Peter reflects the human condition: one moment deeply faithful, the next filled with doubt. Despite his failure, Peter ultimately became the rock upon which the Church was built.

The same message can be found in the secular world. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, has said that when he looks back on his life, it won’t be his failures he regrets—it will be the opportunities he didn’t take because he was afraid to fail.

We must remember: nothing worthwhile comes easily. We can’t be afraid to apply ourselves fully to our efforts. For students especially, it’s often easier to accept failure on a test they didn’t prepare for than to face the disappointment of a poor result after studying hard. But I encourage our students to give their best. If the outcome is still disappointing, that moment becomes a valuable learning opportunity.