Have you ever said the phrase “I would never…” only to end up doing the very thing you were convinced you would never do? If your answer is yes, know you are not alone. Recall the conversation between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 26 where Jesus tells Peter he would desert him. However, Peter was quick to respond saying “even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. (Matthew 26:33-35 NLT). The gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark mention that all the other disciples made the same claim as Peter, that they would not deny Jesus even if it was unto death. Why is that significant to highlight, you may wonder. It is significant because it shows that Peter was not the only person to desert Christ. He was not the only disciple who said even if it was unto death denying Christ is not an option.

If Peter was not alone in his claim, neither were we. While our mistakes may differ, our vows are often very similar. Yet we condemn ourselves as the only person to have ever sinned. When Peter declared he would not deny Christ, I am sure he believed and was certain within himself he would not. With all confidence we also boldly declared “I would never” and when we realize that we have indeed done what we said we never would have, we feel like a hypocrite. It is certainly difficult to recover from such moral setbacks. We consider ourselves too filthy for the church, too filthy to operate in ministry, too sinful to be of any good use. But the gospel account of Luke brings us hope. Luke mentions a slightly different account compared to Matthew and Mark. In Luke’s account Jesus says the following to Peter, he says “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32 NIV). What did Jesus mean when he said, “when you turn back strengthen your brothers”? Jesus acknowledged that Peter would in some sense backslide but even more wonderful, he announces that Peter would return, and, in his return, he would strengthen the others. Plainly put, Jesus is saying to Peter, when he returns, notice he is not saying if he returns to following him, but, when he returns to following him, he will have the ability through his resolve to minister and encourage others. He will, from a place of humility, be able to empathize with the others who have also turned back. While the enemy wanted to knock Peter out of the race Christ had already prayed for him and he would return and fulfil his calling.

We may get knocked down by doing the things we said we never do but that does not mean we cannot return to Christ. We will fail at times, but “a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Prov. 24:16). Whatever season you may find yourself, remember you have the power to return to Christ. You have the power to encourage others using the lessons you learned from your own experiences. You have the power to get back up and keep going for I am “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Do not count yourself out. The race is not over. You still have more fight left in you. Without a doubt no matter what the enemy may say, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28 NKJV).