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Day Five: Not in Our Own Strength

If we are honest, we are not so different from Peter. Perhaps our personalities differ. You may not be outspoken, bold, unafraid to challenge or speak out like Peter. But we are like him in that we are usually determined to do things our own way. We often want a life without necessity of God—one where he is present but not all-encompassing. 

Jesus said that whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it, but we are not so sure how to lose our own life. This act of complete surrender goes against the fabric of our nature. We want to be worthy, capable, and enough all on our own.

And yet time and time again we come to the end of ourselves. We fail miserably in areas we never thought we would fail. We carry secret sin and shame. We hunger for the approval of man even as we follow God. What Peter ultimately shows us is that our faith and commitment often happens in wrestling and wavering—times of fear and moments of breakthrough.

Thankfully, God’s plan does not depend on us. He has a plan, and He will see it through to eternity. Even though Israel betrayed Him over and over, He had a plan to redeem them—not just them, but the whole world—and to give them hope and a future. He never breaks His promises. His purposes never fail. His mercies are new every morning. And no matter how Peter resisted the Lord’s grace, betrayed Him before the cross, or sought the comforts of his old identity, Jesus’s love for him was greater. Take heart today. Jesus has overcome the world!

Reflection: In what areas do you feel similar to Peter? What qualities or relationships or material things are you afraid God will ask you to surrender? 

Prayer: “Lord, help me to rest in the promise that you have overcome the world and that you are the only one who makes us worthy and capable. Amen.”