Mark 14:53-72

“Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ And when he thought about it, he wept.” (Mark 14:72, NKJV)

Life is a combination of successes and failures. We register wins and losses. It doesn’t take us long to realize that we cannot win them all. We are made of dust and subject to the weaknesses of the flesh. Nevertheless, some failures are more severe and memorable than others. When Peter denied knowing the Lord three times, it was his epic failure. But it was necessary for Peter to become the “rock” he was destined to become.

Peter had been boastful. When Jesus said that they would all be made to stumble, Peter replied, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” And when Jesus said that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice, Peter said, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” Peter relied on his natural abilities, but they were insufficient against heavy spiritual opposition.

When it comes to the work of the kingdom, those who rely on their natural abilities are destined to fail. But those who know they are weak in themselves, who rely on the Lord’s strength, will go from success to success.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NKJV)

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ...” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV)

The source of our strength and victory lies in our complete trust and total reliance upon Jesus. Peter needed to learn this lesson through failure. And often our failures become our greatest teachers if we will humble ourselves and admit our faults. This is how God shapes us to be vessels of honor and instruments of victory. This is the way failure is a steppingstone to success.

“If you learn from defeat, you haven't really lost.” (Zig Ziglar)

Have you failed in some way? Ask God to show you how to learn from it.