I heard a quote one time, I don’t remember the source of the quote, or even who said it, but the heart of the quote has always stuck with me.  If you are afraid to fail, you’ll never achieve greatness. The only way that any of us will really be able to do something great it try, and if we fail, we fail.  We get up, dust ourselves off, and try again.

That’s true in life, for any of us. But for us as Christians, we have an extra encouragement in all of this.  The only way anything is ever a failure is if God can’t use it for something.  And in our lives, there is nothing that God can’t use somehow for good.

Look at one of those great failures in scripture this morning, Peter trying to walk on water.  It is told to us in Matthew 14: 25-32:

25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter saw Jesus walking on water and wanted to walk with Him.  So Jesus calls Peter out.  And he starts walking.  All is well.

But then he notices the wind and gets scared.  Jesus pulls him out and asks why he had so little faith.  And we are like, bless, poor Peter, you mess up again.

But look at what happened in verse 33.  The disciples saw all that happened and worshiped Jesus, saying He was the Son of God.

In other words, they saw Jesus walk on water, they saw Jesus rescue Peter, they saw Jesus power with their own eyes, and they knew that He was the Son of God.  Yes, things looked bad for Peter.  But what happened? It strengthened everyone’s faith.

Jesus used it for His glory.

There’s not a thing that happens in your life that somehow Jesus can’t use.  Not a thing.  Jesus can use even our failures for His good.  He can.

So, don’t give up today.  Don’t quit.  Don’t get down.  Jesus can use whatever has happened, our victories and our defeats, for His glory.

Give your failures to Him.  And see what He can do with it.  There’s not a single part of our story and of our lives that He can’t use!

If you’d like to be added to my devotional list, click here to sign up.  You also can read these thoughts on St. Matthew’s new mobile app.  Click here to download!