“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
[Jeremiah 29:11]
Recently I was praying about how to handle your feelings when you have disappointed someone. I hate it when I let someone down, but it does happen. It’s important to ask others for forgiveness, but it is also important we forgive ourselves.
I find it so interesting that some people don’t seem to care at all what others think and some people are consumed by others’ opinions.
The truth is we should be most concerned with what God thinks!
If we have discussed the situation with Him, examined our heart and are turning to walk in love then we can live in peace. We sometimes must allow Him to work out the details of the rest.
Do we trust Him to take care of that?
Years ago we went on a mission trip and I was pretty hard on one of the students that went. It bothered me for years that I had not given the kid more grace so I asked the Lord to forgive me and to bless the person. Soon after, the Lord gave me an opportunity to apologize, and while I really wasn’t excited about it, I knew I had to.
In my case they didn’t even remember what I was talking about, but appreciated me taking the time to make it right. I was so thankful. I feel confident the persons feelings were not the important thing in that process; I believe the Lord wanted to know if I would humble myself to be obedient.
The disciple Peter would have been great counsel in this area. I think he and I would have been friends and quite possibly the ones that teachers don’t let sit beside each other. He had so much zeal and was all in, but he wasn’t without fault.
When he denied Jesus, he went back to fishing. He went back to the thing he did before God called him. How many times do we do this? We retreat with one little mistake and think we aren’t worthy or not cut out for being a disciple.
So, what did Jesus do? For each time that Peter denied Jesus, Jesus restored Peter’s heart. He redeemed the past for Peter and Peter was reminded of Jesus’ love for him. Each time Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me?” and Peter would answer yes, Jesus was calling out the lie that the enemy was telling Peter. The enemy was telling Peter he had gone too far, that he should live in shame and guilt, but Jesus wanted him to recognize his true identity in Christ so that he could do Kingdom work!
I love Peter’s story so much. I pray today that you talk to Jesus about the moments that feel unredeemable and as you talk, I pray the Holy Spirit counsels you and reminds you of the Fathers great love for you!
May your heart be mended and may the Lord restore whatever has been broken.
Dig Deeper
John 21:15-19 | James 4:6 | Psalm 25:9 | Isaiah 26:3 | Jeremiah 29:11
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