Failure is a spiritual opportunity. To give up or to grow up. If you choose to grow up you will be prepared for what God has for you.
History lesson: Guess who this is. At age 22—lost his job, age 23—he was defeated in a run for state legislature. Age 24—his business failed. At age 26, his lifelong
sweetheart passed away. At age 27—had a nervous breakdown. At age 29, 34, 45 once again defeated over and over for political office. At age 47 defeated in nomination as
Vice-president. At age 49 once again defeated in his run for Senate. And then at age 51 become President of the United States. Who is this?
Abraham Lincoln had a lot of failure in his life before being President. Many historians believe he was able to have the character to do what had to be done in the Civil War
because of the faith he had developed over the course of his failure. Success builds character, failure reveals it.
A person in the Bible who found faith through his failure was Simon Peter. Let me remind you about Peter. In John 13, Peter was a quick-tempered fisherman, he was asked
by Jesus to– Come follow Me. Left his family business and followed Jesus. Became part of the disciples.
Last Supper: Jesus says someone here will betray Me. Peter stood up and said: Not me Lord. I will never betray you. Jesus: You will betray Me three times before tomorrow
morning. Then fast forward to Jesus being arrested. The disciples are scattered. But Peter hung around to see what was going to happen. He warmed himself by a fire.
People started saying to him: You were one of those guys who was with Jesus. Not me. Denied it. Did it three times. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. He had
to face his overwhelming failure. Peter ran back to the family business of fishing.
Then three or four days later after the resurrection, Peter faces the risen Jesus in John 21. When Jesus called Peter, He said I want you to fish for people not fish. I want
you to be a spiritual leader, a disciple, I want you to follow Me. Peter did that. “Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will
disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:75 (NIV). But after his failure he gave up and went back to being a fisherman. Peter faced shock,
fear, anger, blame, shame, despair (hitting rock bottom) where you want to give up. Normal emotions after failure. How do we make a comeback?
It Is Never Too Late For a Comeback
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
This verse gives us God’s perspective. Don’t stop. Don’t give up. It’s never too late. Why? Because if God is involved it’s always too soon to quit.
Are You In Need Of a Comeback?
No matter whatever you need to come back from, if Jesus is alive from the dead—and He is—if Jesus has conquered death—and He did—then it’s possible for every person
to have a comeback story.
It is not too late.
You might think it is for you. That it’s too late. It is not hopeless. It is not over. God works and no matter what, you are in His hands, and there is no better place to be.
Refocus Your Trust in God
Jesus helped Peter with his comeback by asking him one question three times in John 21. “Do you love Me?” A comeback always starts with getting back to basic questions:
Do we love Jesus? How can I refocus back on God? Scripture shows us how to do that. \
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
God loves to move things toward a comeback. But it all starts with a Next Step toward Him. Trust Him. Remember Him. And the right path, which is God’s path, will be shown
to you.
My prayer for you is that you will face a setback, when it looks too late and hope seems gone, with determination, grace, and perseverance you will make a comeback
because God forgives and helps us move forward in His plan and purpose for our lives.
