Failure: The First Step to Victory, Part 2

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!’ And He said, ‘I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.’” Luke 22:31-34

Failure, as intensely painful and undesirable as it may be, can be the first phase of God’s rebuilding job, knocking out the props we lean on and building His enduring truth into our hearts and minds. We develop certain behavioral traits through the years that seemingly serve us well. Our intense work ethic propels us into leadership positions, our initiative thrusts us past our peers, our desire to control our circumstances pushes us to the forefront.

But the day comes when our work isn’t enough, when our initiative leads us down a dark alley, when the rug is pulled out from under our ability to control our circumstances. Failure becomes a reality. But this is not the time to give up. God often must bring us to the end of ourselves so we might see the truth that will set us free.

Peter appeared to have brazen notions of being Christ’s right hand man. But Jesus first had to bring Him to his knees to show him that He would exalt the humble man, not the proud. Failure cuts away our rotting timber so Christ may implant in our hearts the restoring and lasting truth of Scripture. It is an opportunity to know the Savior more intimately than ever before.

“...for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10