Failure is something all men experience but few care to admit or discuss. Most are familiar with Thomas Edison’s refusal to admit failure from his famous quote, now often used for motivational purposes.
“I didn’t fail. I just found 2,000 ways NOT to make a light bulb.”
Despite the rah-rah talk about failure and imminent success around the corner, let’s face it. Failure hurts. As a business entrepreneur, I understand failure on that front. I will also confess failures as a husband and dad. Finally, most embarrassing of all, I must admit times of gross “faith failure”. If misery loves company, I am well accompanied by each of you (for those who are honest).
I take further solace in one of the most well-known “faith failures” in recorded history—that of the Apostle Peter. He boasted that he would face death for Jesus. Here is part of their exchange (John 13: 37-38).
“Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.””
Peter did just that. Perhaps the greatest example of remorse over failure is recorded in Luke 22: 60-62. The picture it paints stops me in my tracks. Peter’s third denial (faith failure) occurred when he cursed aloud, swearing he did not know Jesus.
“Immediately…a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Peter was a broken man. The thought of the Lord looking me right in the eye when I fail Him brings the same response as Peter’s. If we really belong to Jesus, our hearts are broken and spirits grieved over our faith failures.
But I have good news to end this brief devotional. Jesus used Peter’s massive failure to bring him to a point of greater faith—faith in Jesus, not his ability to be strong in the flesh. This failure became part of Peter’s preparation for difficult ministry that lay on the other side of Jesus’ ascension. Peter, indeed, became the rock upon which Jesus built His church – just as He had promised (Matthew 16: 18).
Just as Jesus restored Peter after his great failure, He will do the same for us when we come to Him in faith (no matter how feeble) and simply ask Him to do so.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73: 26 NASB)
