DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT: COMING BACK FROM FAILURE #1

I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work. -- Thomas A. Edison
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John 21:1-25

Someone once said... “We grow more through PAIN than through SUCCESS!” This is something that I have found in my own life, and dare I say, probably most of you! I am constantly encouraged when I read of Peter’s struggle in John 21, when he had failed so badly, yet Jesus was able to encourage him to come back from his failure, and get going again.

How did Peter get to the point of failure?
He had left all including home, wife and kids, boat and business, to follow Jesus. Peter had decided to become the best disciple... a born leader! The issue here is not whether Peter can be forgiven... but can he be restored? Can we ever arise from the ashes of failure? Can we ever get back to the point of starting again? If you are called to follow God... you will never be happy doing anything else, we know this from the many testimonies of people who have stumbled in their walk with Jesus.

As Peter went fishing…
Was he thinking of all the good times he had when walking with the Master, was he looking around at the places where Jesus had fed the 5000, where the blind man was healed, where his mother-in-law was healed, where the possessed man was set free in the synagogue, was he thinking of how he had failed Jesus? And then … as he heard the voice calling, it must have been déjà vu experience.

To begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment. -- James Allen

A closer look this week at these events in John 21, will let us see how they can help us return from our failures.

Loving Father, I thank you for your word that can bring healing to me. As I read what has happened to other Christians, I am so amazed by your love and mercy. Grant me the revelation through the Holy Spirit to know that even when I fail, you are there to help me start again. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.