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Commitment Quote by Richard J. Foster

“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be able to fulfill our covenant. We may have made commitments in the past that we were not able to fulfill—perhaps a marriage vow or a promise to our children. Or it could have been…” quote by Richard J. Foster
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““I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be able to fulfill our covenant. We may have made commitments in the past that we were not able to fulfill—perhaps a marriage vow or a promise to our children. Or it could have been something far more simple—a pledge to be diligent in devotional reading, for example.””

Richard J. Foster

About This Quote

Commitment avoidance often stems from fear of breaking past promises; recognizing this pattern helps address underlying anxiety and rebuild confidence in future vows.

In simple terms: Fear of failing past promises blocks new commitments.

Key Takeaway

Past unkept vows fuel commitment anxiety.

Themes

commitment fear trust self‑discipline

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

reflective spiritual

When to use this quote

  • Entering a marriage
  • Starting a long‑term project
  • Taking on a regular devotional practice

Key Concepts

psychology of promise‑keeping spiritual accountability

Practical Applications

  • Reflect on past promises to identify patterns
  • Create small, trackable commitments first

Questions to Reflect On

  • What past commitments still affect your confidence?
  • How can you rebuild trust in your ability to keep vows?
A Different Perspective

Not all fear is irrational; some past failures may signal genuine capacity limits.

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