Ever felt like Peter?
He wanted a redo.
He needed a clean heart,
a second chance,
a fresh start.
How could he have abandoned Jesus, the man who meant everything to him, just when He needed him most? Feelings of fear, shame, failure, and unworthiness swallowed him like a Floridian sinkhole.
We may feel that way when we’re too scared to stand up for the truth, too self-conscious to openly express our love for God, too doubtful that the Spirit will actually work through us, or unconvinced that we’ll make it to heaven. Maybe we don’t want to admit these feelings, but God is not surprised by any of them. He knows us just as well as He knew Peter.
Jesus knew in advance that Peter would deny Him, but He loved him anyway. God tenderly used the bitter pill of Peter’s three denials as a potent elixir to heal his fear and boost his faith. Peter’s negative feelings propelled his transformation from an impulsive, fearful follower into an intentional, faithful proclaimer! God also knows what it takes to motivate us to become useful instruments in His hand. The pill God prescribes may not always be easy to swallow, but it is always effective!
Perhaps Peter found comfort in God’s words in the book of Isaiah. “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1b-2) God’s presence never left Peter, even when circumstances made him feel all alone.
After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter found forgiveness and empowerment at breakfast with Him on the beach. (John 21) There, Jesus met Peter’s three mistakes with lovingkindness. Days later, Peter was filled with the Spirit of Jesus, empowering him to boldly declare to a bewildered crowd that Jesus, the man they crucified, was the resurrected Messiah.
God did for Peter what He did for the Israelites. He revealed something new gradually, like spring buds blossoming. It happened so slowly that Peter couldn’t see it. God carefully carved a path through Peter’s personal wilderness and created flowing rivers in his dry heart. He does the same for us. Embrace God’s pace. Release your feelings of fear, shame, failure, or unworthiness, and humbly trust Him when He says, “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I WILL make a pathway through the wilderness. I WILL create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19, emphasis mine) He’s still creating something new in you. Be patient. Change is happening.
(Welcome to this month’s NEW series, “Something New.” Thank you for following Perfection Road.)
