Failure

Mark 16:2 "But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee; there ye shall see Him, as He said unto you."

Have you ever failed at anything? Have you ever just known that you had failed someone..one of your children, a friend, a brother, a parent...or even God? In my lifetime, I've had a couple of what I would call "massive failures"..but then there are the everyday things..the thoughts that I've had..the things that I've said, the judgemental attitude. At times, I have even thought to myself..God..how can you love someone like me? I have failed you.
There are examples all through scripture of people who have failed..Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife..twice! He was afraid for his own life and so he said that she was his sister! Yet, Abraham is the man that we all refer to as the man of great faith. Isaac also did the same thing..he lied about his wife. Jacob took his brother's blessing. David had a man killed so that he could have his wife, whom he had already slept with. I think the example that stands out the most to me is Peter. Peter spent three years with Jesus. He knew Him. He had fellowship with Him. He spent time with Him. He knew who Jesus was...and yet we read in the gospels..that Peter failed. Despite the fact that he knew Christ intimately, he still had doubts. He still had fears.
Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, He told Peter that he would deny even knowing Him. ..and that he would deny Him three times! Peter immediately spoke up and told the Lord that He would not in any way deny Him. He was even willing to die with Him! But the sad truth is that when Jesus was arrested, Peter did deny Jesus. In fact, in Mark 14:71,when questioned for the third time about knowing Jesus, Peter began cursing and swearing, and denied ever having even known Him. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him and he wept bitterly. He knew..he had failed.
There is something about failure that breaks our hearts. We don't set out to fail..somehow it just seems that we end up there..maybe after something we've said that has hurt someone..maybe after a bad decision..maybe some of us have actually denied knowing Christ. Maybe there was a time in your life when you asked Him in to your life..to be your Savior..and now..those around you would be surprised to know that you are His child. Maybe you've denied Him. Maybe you have doubts. Maybe you've had fears. Maybe you're more of a people pleaser than a God pleaser..maybe it's not "cool" in your circle of friends to love Jesus.
Beloved, I want to tell you today..that God does not see you as a failure. After Abraham failed God, he became the "Father of all nations"..Isaac and Jacob were also blessed, even though they had "failed"..God called David a man after his own heart..even though he had failed God miserably! And then there was Peter..after Jesus was resurrected, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James had gone to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. They didn't know that he was alive! When they arrived, they were met by an angel who directed them.."Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth. He is risen. Go your way. Tell His disciples AND PETER that He goeth before you into Galilee. There ye shall see Him as He said unto you."
This story has encouraged me time after time. Peter knew that he had failed His Lord. He was probably so ashamed. But Jesus, in His compassion, made sure that special mention was made of Peter to show him that in spite of his denial, Jesus had not denied him. In fact, the Lord went on to use Peter in a mighty way. You can read all about it in the book of Acts.
Friends, family, and loved ones..I am not in ANY WAY advocating sin.. Paul was asked that question..should we go on sinning that the grace of God might abound? Paul said Absolutely NOT! But when we DO fail..we have an advocate..His name is Jesus..I also need to let you know that there are decisions that we may have made at times that may have caused repercussions..chains of events that now only God could reverse. There are times we really feel like we've made a mess of things..but beloved.. do not believe for a moment that God gives up on us during those difficult times.
I have found in my own life that those times of failure are actually the very things that God has used to draw me to Him. I mentioned earlier one of my "massive" failures..God has actually turned that awful thing in my life into my ministry..and by His grace, I've been able to help others who have been through the same thing. Beloved, we NEED God! We need His love, His strength for every situation..His mercy that is new every morning..His compassion. He LOVES you. Do you know that? He loves you in spite of yourself. He loves you, even when you fail.
My prayer today for every one of you..and for myself also..is that we would take some time with Him..that we would just spend some time today talking to Him..that we would talk to Him about our failures, our fears, our doubts, our concerns..we can trust Him with those things...and then let Him be that healing balm in your life. Let Him be the God of all comfort to you. Let Him be God! He wants to simply love you today.