Peace for Christian Perfectionists by Faith ChangMuestra

The kids were late to school today—and though I scolded one of them for reading at the kitchen counter instead of helping everyone get ready to go, really it was my fault. I’d assumed that thermos lunches and air-fried tater tots and feet wearing both shoes and socks would come together faster than they did.

I am often perplexed at the time-taking nature of things like getting out the door and raising children and being sanctified.

Progress toward Christ-likeness is painfully slow, and as my self-directed frustration mounts, I often assume that God is just as impatient with me as I am with myself. But he is not like me, and I greatly need his lengthening perspective.

I find particular comfort in Peter. I identify with his mixture of earnest zeal and prideful overestimation of himself. In the presence of his friends, he declares that even if they all deserted their Teacher, he never would—only to deny even knowing Jesus when courage and allegiance are most critical (Mark 14:29-31, 66-72).

Peter so often gets it wrong. But how does Jesus respond?

Jesus cooks him breakfast (John 21:1-19). On a shore by a lake, the resurrected Christ tends a charcoal fire with fish and bread for his friends. Having fed Peter, Jesus gives him an opportunity to reaffirm his love, casting his call once more to this fisher of men: I know you failed, but feed my sheep. Follow me.

Preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “I never cease to be grateful to these disciples. I am grateful to them for every mistake they ever made, for every blunder they ever committed, because I see myself in them.” Their stories are an invaluable gift to us, written down so that we might see ourselves in them and, what’s more, see God’s patience with people like us.

God of hope,

It feels like every step I take toward you, I stumble ten steps back. My growth in love and holiness has been so slow. I am losing hope.

Yet a thousand years are but a watch in the night for you. You are not panicking as you accomplish your will on earth or in me. Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. So if it brings you glory for me to live as a work in progress, I submit to your purposes. Make me a testimony of your perfect patience for others who need hope.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen