Failure

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail,” Jesus told Peter (Luke 22:32a).
 
Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, but He didn’t pray it wouldn’t happen. Instead, Jesus prayed that despite Peter’s failure, his faith wouldn’t fail. Some might say that Jesus’ prayer didn’t work, but from God’s point of view, Peter’s faith didn’t fail. Losing a battle doesn’t mean you have lost the war. God doesn’t see us as failures. He sees us as learners. God can redeem the worst “failure” and work it for good (Romans 8:28). 
 
All of us will fail in life. We live in a fallen world and don’t always live according to the Spirit. If we yield to our flesh, failure occurs. But failure isn’t fatal if our faith stays alive and sensitive to God’s grace.
 
Your victory lived in the heart of God long before your failure happened. “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).
 
God’s love is unwavering, and it remains constant regardless of your failures. Your identity in Christ isn’t changed by your failures, and neither is your purpose.  

Jesus continued on in Luke 22:32: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32).
 
The idea of conversion is mentioned in the Bible at least fourteen times. Its basic meaning is a turning or returning to God. When someone is converted, there is a turning away from sin and a turning to God. Repentance and putting faith in God are corresponding factors in conversion. The Scriptural basis for conversion is in the truth of the atonement. Although men fail, the truth of the atonement remains. It cannot be denied. When people turn to God in repentance and faith, reconciliation and forgiveness are the results. 

In Luke chapter 22, Peter’s faith was shaken. He denied the Lord, but he didn’t lose his faith. Peter didn’t reject Jesus. What did Jesus tell Peter? His instruction to Peter was that when he “returned” to Him, he was to “strengthen the brethren.” Jesus told Peter to serve Him again after repenting his denial. He was telling Peter He shouldn’t allow His denial to define His worthiness to serve Him. 
 
If Jesus hadn’t given Peter this command, others might have doubted Peter’s ministry. Indeed, Peter himself must have doubted whether or not he was fit to serve because, after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus instructed Peter three times to serve Him by feeding His sheep (John 21:15-17). 
 
Even though you may have failed and received God’s forgiveness, do you allow your failure to keep you from serving the Lord?
 
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).
 
When you believe your sufficiency lies solely within you, you find yourself in a state of defeat and despair. When you strive to live from your own strength and abilities, you limit God’s presence in your life. Embrace God as your ultimate source of sufficiency. Allow His love and forgiveness to define you. Just as He restored Peter’s purpose, let Him renew your vision and purpose. 
 
Jesus is praying that your faith will not fail.