Every one of us knows what it is to fail. We may not all fail in the same way, but nobody lives very long without looking back at some moment and saying, “I wish I had done that differently.” Some failures are public. Some are private. Some are moral, spiritual, relational or personal. But failure has a way of leaving a mark. It can leave guilt, shame, sorrow, consequences and memories we wish we could erase.
The question is not simply, “Have we failed?” The question is, “What do we do with our failures?”
One of the clearest examples in Scripture of someone who failed is Simon Peter. Peter loved the Lord. He followed Christ. He had left his nets, heard Jesus preach, seen miracles, walked on water and confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was sincere, but Peter still failed.
In Luke 22:31–32, Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Those words were spoken before Peter denied the Lord. Jesus knew Peter would fall, but He also knew Peter would get up again. The Lord knew Peter would fail, but He also knew Peter would be restored. That gives us hope: failure does not have to be final when it is brought to the Lord.
So when we do fail (and we will) what do we do?
First, we must realize our failure. Peter’s first problem was not denial; it was self-confidence. He told Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” Yet before the night was over, Peter denied the Lord three times. Often failure does not happen all at once. It begins with distance, compromise, fear and self-reliance. Healing begins when we quit pretending, quit excusing, and honestly say, “Lord, I failed.”
Second, we must repent of our failure. After Peter denied the Lord, Luke 22:61–62 says, “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter… And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Those were not casual tears. Peter was broken. There is a difference between regret and repentance. Regret says, “I wish this had not happened.” Repentance says, “Lord, I have sinned.” Regret may grieve over consequences, but repentance grieves over sin.
Third, we must receive grace after failure. On resurrection morning, the angel said in Mark 16:7, “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter…” Those two words, “and Peter,” are full of mercy. Peter had denied the Lord, but the risen Christ had not forgotten him. Peter may have felt disqualified, but grace still knew his name. Grace does not pretend failure is harmless, but grace says failure is not the final word.
Fourth, we must return to faithfulness beyond failure. In John 21, Jesus met Peter by a fire of coals. Peter had denied the Lord by a fire, and Jesus restored him by a fire. Three times Jesus asked, “Lovest thou me?” and then told him, “Feed my sheep.” Peter still had work to do. Failure had not canceled his future. He later stood on the day of Pentecost and boldly preached Christ.
Finally, we must remember the faithfulness of Christ. Jesus said, “But I have prayed for thee.” Before Peter ever denied Him, Jesus was praying for him. Peter’s failure was great, but Christ’s intercession was greater. Second Timothy 2:13 says, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
Maybe you are carrying failure. Bring it to the Lord. Do not defend it. Do not deny it. Do not drown in it. Confess it, receive His grace and take the next right step.
Peter failed, but he was not finished. Peter fell, but he was not forsaken. Peter denied the Lord, but the Lord did not deny Peter.
Failure is not final when it is brought to Jesus Christ.
Jimmy Barrett is a resident of Blackshear and pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Waycross.
