Learning to Fail, Well
Learning to Fail, Well
If there’s one thing we all know, it’s failure. No matter where we live or what language we speak, failure is a common denominator: we all fail. The question is, what do we do when we do?
Adam and Eve responded with denial. King David sulked. Peter retreated to something familiar: fishing. These are common responses to failure, but none of them teaches us how to fail well.
But in Peter’s case, we find hope because Jesus entered into the story and things changed. Specifically, Peter changed. How Jesus handled Peter’s failure can be summarized in five statements.
Statement 1: I’m here. Even though Peter had denied knowing Jesus, Jesus didn’t shun him or say, “I told you so.” Instead, Jesus fixed him breakfast and ate with him (John 21), even though Peter had denied Him three times, just as Jesus had predicted.
Statement 2: I know your story. The breakfast between Jesus and Peter is filled with reminders from Peter’s own story. They are on the same seashore where Peter first met Jesus. It was through a miraculous catch of fish that Jesus grabbed Peter’s attention, just as He had done years before. Jesus prepared breakfast over a charcoal fire, reminding Peter of the fire where he denied Christ. He then gave Peter bread, echoing the Last Supper. Through these familiar moments, Jesus tells Peter without words, “I see you. I know you. I am here.”
Statement 3: It was bad. Jesus didn’t sugarcoat it for Peter. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him. After the third time, Peter was broken, "grieved" (John 21:17). What Peter had done was hurtful. It was bad. Jesus needed Peter to know his actions mattered, but He also wanted Peter to know that His love for Peter was greater than Peter’s failures.
Statement 4: You’re not done. Jesus asked Peter, not the old Peter, but the broken Peter, to lead: “Feed my sheep.” But that’s not all. He then proceeded to tell Peter that when his time to face death came, he would not fail like he did in the past. Jesus believed in broken Peter.
Statement 5: Push Restart. Jesus ended His conversation with a familiar invitation when He told Peter, “Follow me” (John 21:19). The first time Peter heard these words marked the beginning of his adventure with Jesus (Mark 1:17). At that time, Peter was full of questions and confused about who Jesus was. He still had questions, but there was no longer any doubt about the identity of Jesus. He was the One who forgave him, who sought him out even though he had failed, and the Savior who now called him to serve. Jesus pushed restart.
As a result, the book of Acts testifies that a broken and forgiven Peter was a great leader. His failures did not define nor deter him. He was an empowered child of the King. And so are you. In your failings, breathe deep, my brother. Listen well, my sister. Jesus is with you and leading you forward.
-The MissioCare Collective Team