I’ve never really thought of myself as one to play it safe but looking back I can now see where I have let opportunities slip through my hands because I’ve been lazy or fearful. Ultimately I regret those moments and those missed opportunities. I don’t really want to look back at my life and see regret. I don’t want to count missed opportunities.
It’s funny to me that these thoughts of “missed” opportunities and "failures" cross my mind. You see, I feel like God has a pretty good idea of how things are going to go and I feel like he ends up using pretty unusual ways to teach us pretty basic and sometimes pretty big lessons. I think of the disciples, especially Peter, when the topic of mistakes comes up.
For those of you who don’t know, Peter was the guy who denied Jesus three times, he’s the guy who thought it a good idea to cut off the Roman’s ear at the time Jesus was captured, and he’s also the man who walked on water with Jesus.
Peter was never really the type to play it safe. It seems like this allowed Peter to make some pretty spectacular mistakes. I mean Peter effed up pretty bad. Like, the dude denied Christ.
This is where the humor of it all comes in. Peter dropped the ball more than once. And he dropped it in a big way. In that moment and probably even for seasons at a time, Peter probably felt like a failure or maybe as though he was less than the other disciples. He probably asked himself, "Why am I this way?"
See, these failures were a big part of Peter's journey! Without them, Peter would never have developed into the man Jesus would use and call 'The Rock'.
The story of Peter is incredible because it demonstrates both the great failure our humanity allows for and the amazing grace God extends in spite of that failure. God has made provision for our failure in that he has already forgiven us. We just need to get on the grace train and accept that He’s the conductor.
Romans 5:20-21 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus never asked Peter if he was sorry for what he had done or why he did what he did. He didn’t try to make Peter feel bad by rubbing his nose in what he had done. He just asked, “Peter do you love me?” “Peter do you love me?”
Of course Peter loved Jesus. It’s part of why he wept bitterly after his denial. He felt terrible doing what he had just done.
Just like Peter, we sin and fall short and we should expect as much. But just like Peter we need to we need to always dust off and crawl back to Jesus.
I’ve decided I’m going to take more chances and make more mistakes. I want to get out of the boat. I want to fight a giant. I want to come face to face with lions.
I hope you will feel comfortable enough in your humanity to make mistakes. I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough in God’s grace to grow beyond those mistakes and press on in Christ.
God sees us beyond our mistakes and we need to see ourselves beyond our mistakes and ask, “How will this grow me/ How will this strengthen me/ What can I learn from this?"
Be bold.
Take heart.
And always like to remember the words of the wise Miss Frizzle. “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!”
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