Encouragement
We picked up my daughters from a week of camp on this past Saturday. My youngest daughter received a “Top Camper” award while my oldest daughter served her first year on staff at the camp. Both are awesome accomplishments in this Dad’s book.
This camp is unique in the staff assignments and volunteers. Many of the volunteers on staff were campers when they were younger. Some of the volunteers still take a week of vacation and travel from as far as Colorado to Ohio to serve on staff. I was able to recognize the staff member who helped coax my oldest daughter from leaving my side six years ago and joining in with the rest of the campers when it was her first year.
I had to thank her. I thanked her and pointed out how her efforts to minister to my daughter and make her feel welcome in her first year at camp brought her back every year since, and now has her serving on camp staff as a volunteer.
I believe it is good to be able to thank people who have had a significant impact on our lives. There will come a time when I can walk up to Paul and Peter and thank them for their awesome examples. I will thank all of the disciples, but in particular I will be thanking Paul and Peter – I seem to relate to them the most in their struggles.
I can relate to Paul’s struggle with sin, as he lays it out in his letter to the Roman churches in Romans 7:15:
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
…and further appreciate his confession of weakness in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Through Paul’s struggle, I am finding hope in my struggle; through Paul’s confession, I am finding hope to confess my own weakness and see God’s grace overcoming my limitations.
I can also relate to Peter’s stubbornness, fear, and impulses to serve well beyond his abilities. I find hope in Peter’s failure when he denied the Lord out of his fear in Luke 22:60-62:
Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Some may think Peter gave up on his faith at this moment, however I see it differently. I see Peter looking at the Lord, shocked and dismayed at what came out of his mouth was exactly what Jesus predicted would happen… in that moment, I see many conflicting feelings emerging in Peter, but not one of abandoning his faith.
- Peter’s heart is grieving over Jesus’ capture and upcoming trial.
- Peter’s heart is grieving over his own words of denial.
- Peter’s heart is filled with fear over his world being turned upside-down by the events of the past day.
- Peter’s faith is sparked by the knowledge that Jesus knew what was coming and is truly God.
Some may argue Peter’s denial was a divergence from faith; I see it as a test, a proving ground, or a learning moment in Peter’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Yes, he failed… just like I fail. Yes, he denied Jesus, just like I sometimes do by my actions or reactions. Yes, Jesus looked right at him when it happened, just like Jesus watches me every moment of my day.
And, most importantly in Peter’s lesson, Jesus builds upon Peter’s failure to make him a leader in the early church.
John 21:17
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
I see both of these men struggling with sin, doubt, failure, and the many challenges we face every day. I also see the Lord overcoming their weaknesses by His strength and grace. This is an example of how the Lord cares for those He loves. I am encouraged as I struggle with sin, doubt, and failure… I have hope in my challenges and I am thankful to Jesus for this hope.
What about you? Contact me if you are struggling with sin, doubt, failure, or some other challenge and would like prayer.
Glenn Sasscer
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