LUKE 22:31-34: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen yourbrothers.”33Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”34Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

We are likely quite familiar with and run to this truth when life gets hard, circumstances overwhelming, and we feel deep pain in some tough situation. It becomes a “life-preserver” verse for us. And we also have offered it to struggling brothers and sisters for their encouragement. It is found in the middle of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose(Romans 8:28).The truth revealed for us and others is “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” As much as that is a “go to place” in hard times, what about when we encounter those many times of failing the Lord? Do we apply this truth then as well? Are we as quick to put our failings in the category of “all things work together for good” as we are tough times? We need to because “all things” means all things–even our failings. Peter learned this wonderful truth of our God in today’s scripture.

Peter is about to make a sincere but impulsive statement to the Lord that would lead to failure. Jesus is about to be arrested, tried, and crucified, and Peter basically, says, “I am all in Lord. I won’t deny You. Though others will forsake You, you can count on me. I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.” Well, Peter, you are about to learn that all things do work together for good even your ill-advised proclamation of loyalty to Jesus. Failure taught this disciple invaluable truths about himself and his God as they will us.

First, failures teach us how weak we truly are when it comes to things in the spiritual realm. In our failing, and the exposure of our weakness, we are humbled and learn greater dependency upon the grace of God for all things.

Another lesson from failure learned is how good God is. Jesus doesn’t look at Peter and say, “Peter you are going to fail Me and I cannot use a failure in My service. Sorry, but you don’t make the grade. I have to find someone else.” Nope. God doesn’t put us on a shelf because of failure. He shapes us through our failure to be more effective servants.

Thirdly, the Lord uses failure to show us how foolish we are to rely upon ourselves Peter’s focus on his commitment to the Lord was upon himself. He trusted his heart, and though sincere, he went to a place King Solomon states is a foolish place – He who trusts his own heart is a fool(Proverbs 28:26). Nothing like failure to reveal this painful reality to us.

Finally, in our failures, we see the wisdom of God. He takes our failings and makes them our teacher. That is divine wisdom in action. Only God may do this great work in us. And should we heed the instruction of our wise teacher failure, like Peter we will become a more equipped servant of the Lord; humble, dependent, and closer to the Lord who indeed works all things for our good and His glory to include failure.

PRAYER: “Father, I thank and praise You for working all things for good, even my failings.”

QUOTE: “Let God teach us from our failings and not listen to the devil condemning us in our failings.”