In the Bible, you can find a couple of letters from a guy named Peter. He was writing to Christians during His time—helping them figure things out and encouraging them. He was writing as an authority on the Christian faith because he was one of the founders of the whole gig. He walked with Jesus.
That’s pretty cool. He was instrumental in shaping how Christians interact with Jesus. But I think if I was in his shoes, I couldn’t have done it. I couldn’t have written these letters. I couldn’t have been a vocal part of the Christian faith. I probably would have relegated myself to the background.
You see; Peter had a huge failure early on. He betrayed his own friend with his words. When Jesus was at his lowest point, Peter lied and said he didn’t even know the guy. He basically abandoned Jesus. But now he was writing about how to do this whole “Christian” thing right?
Now, I know Jesus forgave him. Jesus “restored” Peter as one of his disciples. But I still don’t think I would have been able to get past my own failure. How could I tell others how to keep the faith when I couldn’t even keep it myself—the time it mattered most?
I’m so glad Peter didn’t do that. He might have wrestled with those thoughts, but he ultimately didn’t let his failures define him. They didn’t hold him back.
Failure never disqualifies you.
So what was your failure? What mistakes have you been allowing to hold you back?
If Peter can deny Jesus, but later go on to write about Him, imagine what you can do regardless of your failure? In fact, I’ve found failure actually gives us more authority than success.
Maybe that failure you’re so ashamed of is actually an opportunity. Maybe you should be standing up in the areas your failures have told you to keep quiet about.
Failure never disqualifies you. Failure actually qualifies you.