Forgiveness After Failure

Three. These were the number of times Peter denied Jesus. After walking closely with Him, vowing loyalty, and even drawing a sword for Him—Peter still failed. Yet after the resurrection, Jesus doesn't shame him. Instead, Jesus invites Peter into restoration with the simple, repeated question: "Do you love Me?"

The thing about forgiveness is that it isn't just something we give to others—it's something we need to receive ourselves. We can't extend grace until we've experienced it. Jesus forgave Peter not to erase his past but to empower his future. Often, we can look at forgiveness as "the other person's gift," but some of our most powerfully transformative moments are when we can forgive ourselves and receive God's forgiveness.

Jesus didn't keep holding the failure over Peter's head, creating shame and guilt. He didn't repeat the wrong over and over. His attempt at asking the questions was to reorient Peter to who Jesus knew him to be: one of his disciples - chosen, hand-picked, and dearly loved. Jesus already knew Peter loved Him. He used the opportunity to question the disciple to restore Peter's faith by getting him to publicly reaffirm his love and loyalty and overwrite the three public denials. He was giving Peter a second chance. Jesus reoriented the heartbroken disciple to whom Peter was called to be: the builder of His church.

Peter, filled with sorrow and shame at his shortcomings, didn't see it possible to be considered a disciple anymore. Sometimes, the enemy's tactic after our shortcomings is to deceive us into believing that we are too far gone for God ever to use us or forgive us. But a broken and contrite heart, the Lord will not despise (Psalm 51:17). The same loving kindness that Jesus showed Peter is the same that leads us to repentance when we have found ourselves far off and missing the mark.

God has never once asked for perfection from His saints. But He does ask us to love Him, to follow Jesus, and to be made into His likeness, which will, one day, result in perfection when we are reunited with Him. Until then, we are asked for surrender, obedience, faith, submission, and devotion. When we fall short, the way forward is not by retreating from God but by running as hard and fast toward Him and repenting from the thing that veers us away from Him. It's in the return to Christ that restoration and redemption can be found.

Perhaps, like Peter, you have hurt someone you loved and caused pain and suffering for them and yourself. The first step is not to run and hide in shame but to move toward admittance and accountability. The second is to ask for forgiveness. The third is to forgive yourself and move forward with a change of heart and behavior --- this is how we move into maturity in Christ and allow love to cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Our failings don't discount us from God's plan. Instead, when we surrender them to Him and allow Him to speak to the broken areas of our lives - our faults, failures, points of shame, pain, and hang-ups- He can use them to bring forth healing and ultimately advance His kingdom. But we first need to start by admitting our shortcomings. Then, by grace, we receive his love and forgiveness and begin walking out that new freedom and proclaiming the gospel. Because forgiveness is good news.

Reflection: Is there a place where you need to receive God's forgiveness for yourself so that you can walk freely again?

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for never deeming me too far gone when I have fallen short. Please help me not to run in shame when I sin, but rather help me to sprint back to you so that you may correct and restore. Forgive me for the ways I have hurt others and hurt you. Please help me forgive myself and receive forgiveness from you as I seek restoration and change my course moving forward. May this enable me to walk in wholeness and freedom. In Jesus' name, Amen.