How do we respond to failure?
What kind of mindset do we adopt after we fail?
How we respond and the kind of mindset we should have when failure comes is so important
if we are going to grow and learn.
There is a train of thought out there that goes along the lines of, failing makes you a failure.
But is that true? Do our failures make us failures?
No it is not true. As long as we live on this earth we will have to deal with failure,
we will make mistakes, but those things do not need to dictate who we are as people or
what we are going to accomplish.
One of the most important questions we need to ask is, how does Jesus see us even though we
fail and make mistakes?
For the answer to that question we are going to look at Peter.
As you know he was a disciple of the Lord and loved him much. But one day before Jesus was
to be crucified, Peter was told he would deny the Lord.
Peter obviously denied it and declared his devotion and that he was ready to die with the Lord.
But as we all know Peter denied the Lord. He messed up big time. He failed Jesus and it seemed
like all was lost. How can anyone bounce back from that?
Imagine the headline in the newspapers the next day,
PETER DENIES JESUS!!
But let’s focus our attention on an interesting passage of scripture,
“Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,
Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31
Jesus knew Peter would deny Him!
But instead of abandoning him or washing His hands of him, Jesus prayed for him and encouraged him.
Peter’s failure did not change the way Jesus saw him. It did not change the Lord’s plans for his life.
And this is important for us to understand. Even when you fail and make mistakes the Lord is with you.
He hasn’t abandoned or disowned you. Failure doesn’t mean the end of you.
It wasn’t the end of Peter.
It seemed like Peter’s story was over when he failed but we all know how powerfully he was used
in the creation of the early church. He was instrumental in the building of it.
And that’s how good the Lord is. Don’t allow your failures and mistakes to stop you in your tracks.
We are to grow and learn from our failures but never to stop and die.
Jesus has amazing things in store for you in the midst of failures. So because you are a son and daughter
of God you are not a failure but a victor and that’s the best news!
On one last note, if you would like to get a copy of my devotional, click here.
Blessings to you friends!
Rolain
kingspeech 