Just this week I had a conversation with my 9 year old about failure. She had made a mistake at school and forgot to bring her homework home to do over the weekend. This usually means a “slip” or written report of what she forgot that week. I know those slips really bother her.
We sat and talked about failure a little bit. And she always asks me things like, “can you tell me a story of when you failed like this?” Of course, my mind quickly jumped to the BIG failures, but I wasn’t quite ready to share those with her little heart just yet. So I settled on sharing a mistake I made recently in my work.
The first edition of my book came out with a long list of typos. That wouldn’t have been a big deal if I hadn’t handed that typo-filled book out to all of my close friends who promised to promote it. It was embarrassing…the perfectionist in me screamed, “you messed up!!!”
Her eyes got big as I explained my embarrassment. And then we talked about what happens when we fail…we learn.
I haven’t always viewed failure this way. In fact…I often thought failure simply meant I just “wasn’t cut out for this” or that I should stop heading in a particular direction. After all, who was I kidding that I could actually do something like this again without it falling apart? The fear of failure held me back.
But after walking with the Lord for awhile, I now realize that as soon as I make a mistake or my sin turns into shame and I put a halt on God’s purposes and plans for me…I have now entered the enemy’s territory.
God allows us to learn from failure, but He doesn’t want it to stop you. He never intends for us to put a stop to His plans.
I think about that story of Peter often, where he denied Jesus three times. I think about that part where he “wept bitterly”…that might have been the height of Satan trying to “sift him like wheat.” (Luke 22:31)
Because at that point, there was no going back, there was no undoing what had been done. It just hurt. And worst of all, Peter had hurt not only himself but his Savior and best friend…Jesus.
My daughter and I have a book about Peter, written by Dan DeWitt. It’s called “A Friend Who Forgives” and this is my favorite part of the book that really drives home what happens during the moment of betrayal, and then the grace-filled moment of forgiveness between Peter and Jesus. The author writes it this way:
“Peter was so happy to see Jesus alive, but would Jesus forgive him? Peter wasn’t sure.
Maybe Jesus wouldn’t want to talk to him…
Maybe Jesus wouldn’t want to be friends with him…
But yes, Jesus did want to talk to Peter!
And yes, Jesus did want to forgive Peter! Wow!
And since Peter had said he didn’t know Jesus three times, Jesus gave Peter the chance to say three times: ’I love you, Jesus.’
That’s how Peter became a forgiven fisher of men!”
Here’s an encouragement for you today, friend — whatever you have done, remember that He remains faithful. Like Pastor Jason said, He is not surprised by your stumbling or your “failure.” He whispers lovingly for you to take this, learn from it, and get back up. A fighter is one who continually gets back up, no matter how many times he/she is knocked down.
If you’ve fallen recently, even today or this very hour…remember that you can get back up. There is a power working in you (God’s Spirit) that has the same power over death and the grave (Romans 8:11).
You have everything you need to get back up and move forward in faith. Peter finished out his life with radical steps of faith and obedience…we can do the same.
One moment does not define us, one stumble does not overcome us, and in the end…we are His and we must keep pressing on.
We sat and talked about failure a little bit. And she always asks me things like, “can you tell me a story of when you failed like this?” Of course, my mind quickly jumped to the BIG failures, but I wasn’t quite ready to share those with her little heart just yet. So I settled on sharing a mistake I made recently in my work.
The first edition of my book came out with a long list of typos. That wouldn’t have been a big deal if I hadn’t handed that typo-filled book out to all of my close friends who promised to promote it. It was embarrassing…the perfectionist in me screamed, “you messed up!!!”
Her eyes got big as I explained my embarrassment. And then we talked about what happens when we fail…we learn.
I haven’t always viewed failure this way. In fact…I often thought failure simply meant I just “wasn’t cut out for this” or that I should stop heading in a particular direction. After all, who was I kidding that I could actually do something like this again without it falling apart? The fear of failure held me back.
But after walking with the Lord for awhile, I now realize that as soon as I make a mistake or my sin turns into shame and I put a halt on God’s purposes and plans for me…I have now entered the enemy’s territory.
God allows us to learn from failure, but He doesn’t want it to stop you. He never intends for us to put a stop to His plans.
I think about that story of Peter often, where he denied Jesus three times. I think about that part where he “wept bitterly”…that might have been the height of Satan trying to “sift him like wheat.” (Luke 22:31)
Because at that point, there was no going back, there was no undoing what had been done. It just hurt. And worst of all, Peter had hurt not only himself but his Savior and best friend…Jesus.
My daughter and I have a book about Peter, written by Dan DeWitt. It’s called “A Friend Who Forgives” and this is my favorite part of the book that really drives home what happens during the moment of betrayal, and then the grace-filled moment of forgiveness between Peter and Jesus. The author writes it this way:
“Peter was so happy to see Jesus alive, but would Jesus forgive him? Peter wasn’t sure.
Maybe Jesus wouldn’t want to talk to him…
Maybe Jesus wouldn’t want to be friends with him…
But yes, Jesus did want to talk to Peter!
And yes, Jesus did want to forgive Peter! Wow!
And since Peter had said he didn’t know Jesus three times, Jesus gave Peter the chance to say three times: ’I love you, Jesus.’
That’s how Peter became a forgiven fisher of men!”
Here’s an encouragement for you today, friend — whatever you have done, remember that He remains faithful. Like Pastor Jason said, He is not surprised by your stumbling or your “failure.” He whispers lovingly for you to take this, learn from it, and get back up. A fighter is one who continually gets back up, no matter how many times he/she is knocked down.
If you’ve fallen recently, even today or this very hour…remember that you can get back up. There is a power working in you (God’s Spirit) that has the same power over death and the grave (Romans 8:11).
You have everything you need to get back up and move forward in faith. Peter finished out his life with radical steps of faith and obedience…we can do the same.
One moment does not define us, one stumble does not overcome us, and in the end…we are His and we must keep pressing on.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.