On the first day I had my driver’s license, I hopped in my new-to-me 1978 Chrysler Cordoba with the grand mission of driving to my godmother’s house to drop off a letter. It was a made-up errand so I could show off my newly minted driver’s license and car.

Nervous energy pulsed like rocket fuel through my 16-year-old, inexperienced veins. As I cruised down my street, the front end of my Cordoba extended out like a long, wide surfboard on the front of the car. If I ever wanted to do a picnic with ten of my friends sitting on the hood, there would be plenty of room.

As I followed the speed limit and obeyed the road signs, I congratulated myself on this maiden voyage, even though I hadn’t yet reached my destination. After only ten minutes of driving on my own, I envisioned the open roads and my independence. The world would be mine one mile at a time.

Who knew my godparents’ mailbox would crush my dreams of conquering the world?

As I turned into my godparents’ driveway, my inexperienced brain didn’t calculate the significantly longer hood of my Cordoba car hood than the comparably stubby hood of my parents’ 1980s GMC conversion van I’d learned how to drive in. Relatively speaking, only two friends could fit on the front of the van’s hood.

Even now, I can still hear the Cordoba’s authentic metal fender smashing my godparents’ wooden mailbox pole next to their driveway. My nine-month pregnant godmother speed-waddled out her front door to make sure I was okay.

Then the neighbors came out. My godfather came home. My dad drove over. As they inspected the damage, I cried into my godmother’s shoulder.

Minutes before, I was so sure of myself.

Then I messed up.

I hurt things that weren’t mine.

I didn’t have the power to fix it.

Deep down, I never wanted to drive again.

Was this how Peter felt waking up the morning after telling the people around the fire that he didn’t know Jesus? Could he still hear the echo of the rooster in his ears? (Matthew 26:74-75).

Before He was arrested, Jesus told the disciples to meet Him in Galilee (Matthew 26:32.) Peter didn’t listen and followed the arresting mob to the high priest’s home (Luke 22:54). Even before that, Jesus told Peter to pray against temptation when they were in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40). Instead, Peter took a nap.

While we could focus on Peter’s pride, disobedience, or betrayal, we can learn so much more from the three healing choices Peter made in the wake of his mistakes:

1. He didn’t isolate.
2. He didn’t run from God.
3. He embraced Jesus’ forgiveness and grace.

How often do we withdraw from others when we make mistakes? Shame whispers for us to run and hide. This is where Satan pummels us with lies about how we’ll never be able to recover. All lies. Without trusted, godly voices to remind us of God’s love and forgiveness, we’ll sink into a pit of self-condemnation. But, here’s the truth we can celebrate:

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 NLT

We don’t know what Peter did immediately after denying Jesus, but we do read that he was present with the other disciples on the Sunday morning of Christ’s resurrection. Maybe he did go off for a few hours and beat himself up, but he didn’t allow shame to keep him away.

Second, Peter doesn’t run from God. When the risen Christ appears to Peter and a group of disciples as they are fishing, Peter jumps from his boat and swims to meet Jesus (John 21:7). Many of us run away from God, like Jonah, when we should be more like Peter and run toward God after making mistakes.

My hunch is that Peter’s reconnection with other believers spoke truth and love into his life, which made him ready to come face-to-face with Jesus.

Peter’s first two choices made the last step of embracing grace possible. If we never made mistakes, we’d never need grace.

Jesus walks Peter through the repentance and forgiveness process and restores Peter (John 21:15-17). Peter felt the sting of being asked three times if he loved Jesus, but Jesus’ instructions mirrored the number of times Peter had denied Him. In the end, Peter didn’t let his past mistakes stop him from receiving the forgiveness and restoration he needed.

As you reflect on the three steps Peter took after his colossal failure, which one tends to trip you up?

• Do you isolate yourself from others after making a mistake?
• Do you distract yourself to avoid God?
• Are you so committed to beating yourself up that it’s hard to grab the grace God gives?

I remember my dad looking me in the eyes and saying, “Accidents happen, Barbara. Now, you’ll be more careful.” It was a mistake, but it was also the result of pride. Gratefully, I was given forgiveness and grace anyway.

This is what God does for us as well. Life happens. We’ll make mistakes. Praise God for grace.

 

Listen to Barb’s devotion here or on the (in)courage podcast!

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