4 Ways To Turn A Colossal Failure Into Confident Freedom
Peter was very over-confident. He jumped ONTO the water. He cut off a man’s ear. He even rebuked the Lord one time! The result? A colossal failure in denying the Lord three times.
We all struggle with over-confidence at times.
I was recently riding a scooter on a nice, wide, paved bike trail through the woods. I decided to “see what the scooter could do.” Cranking it up to full blast, I zipped around curves effortlessly.
Until…I crashed.
Here are a three things to know about regaining your confidence after a colossal failure:
Failure is generally because of over-confidence.
Most castles in history were attacked in a place where there were no guards. The inhabitants inside felt so secure in that stretch of wall that they did not waste manpower to guard it.
Peter declared to the Lord that he was ready to die or be imprisoned for him. The Lord said to “cocky” Peter that the “cock would crow after he had denied the Lord three times.
It’s exactly what he did.
Financial failure, marriage failure, business failure, or health failure usually happen simply because we were so over-confident that “it could never happen to me.”
Forgiveness starts with true repentance.
After Peter’s colossal failure, he “went out and wept bitterly.” I believe he felt genuine sorrow. The Bible calls it “godly grief”: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret…” (2 Cor. 7: 10)
Judas had “REGRET”: “feeling sorry about what you have done and the personal consequences.” Peter had “REPENTANCE”: “feeling sorry about what you did to bring shame on Christ.”
Forgiveness is also about restoration.
A few days later, Peter decided to leave the ministry and go back to fishing. Suddenly, he noticed a lone figure on the beach. It was Jesus. He dove into the ocean and swam to shore.
Jesus had a fire going. He served Peter breakfast then asked him three times, “Do you love me?” His greatest desire after we fail is to restore us to His love!
He had denied the Lord three times and Christ asked him to affirm his love three times.
We have to go back to the moment of our failure and be healed in order to be fully restored.
Freedom comes from the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s final step in coming back from a failure was several weeks later on the day of Pentecost.
He and 119 other believers were suddenly visited by the power of the Holy Spirit in the upper room. A crowd of thousands gathered around the building. Peter stepped out the door and preached his greatest sermon ever.
Suddenly, he was truly “free.” He could begin again. He could start back where he failed. 3000 people were converted that morning.
What about you? Is there a failure in your life? Have you been forgiven and restored? Have you received freedom to continue your work for God?
Failure is not the end of everything. It is just the start of a new future.