Psalm 138:7-8
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Is it really possible to disappoint God? He knows all things before we do them. He knows we are going to do them, and He gives us the free will to choose our paths. So is it possible, I’m not sure. The Bible tells us that even before the foundation of the World, Christ was poised and ready to give His life as a ransom for us. (Ephesians 1) The very one who created us, knew we would sin against him; and yet, He created us anyway. Now that is a love I truly cannot comprehend.
So what about disappointing the Lord, is it possible? God wants the best for us, He knows whether we will accept or reject Him ( 1 Peter 3:9). He knows our failures, our victories, our losses and gains (Psalm 139). I turn often to the story of the Apostle Peter when I feel like I have failed God, or disappointed Him somehow. Peter was called ‘the Rock, upon which I will build my Church,’ by Jesus Himself. He was the only one brave enough to step out of the boat and walk upon the waves, even if he did sink, he was still the only one who tried. But Peter is often remembered for his greatest failure, “before the cock crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know Me.” And so Peter does deny Jesus. When he realizes what he has done, he breaks down, weeping.
I believe Peter may have thought he had royally screwed up, and now God couldn’t use him anymore. I believe he may even have thought that he was no longer a disciple of Christ. But Jesus felt differently.
Mark 16
7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
But I actually believe that Christ was seeking to restore Peter by specifically requesting him by name, to be told of His Resurrection. We know of the Seashore encounter with Christ, recorded at the end of the Gospel of John, where Jesus asked Peter 3 times, “Do you love me?” I believe each time was a restoration of the 3 denials. All of Christ’s words and actions are purposeful and deliberate. Look at how the footnote at the end of Mark 16 describes Peter.
[And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]
O Precious believer in Jesus Christ, have you failed in your desire to follow God? I certainly have. But our Precious God, is a God who always has the final say. He knew it all before you failed, and He desires to write a glorious footnote to Your story. Peter’s footnote far outshines any failures he may have had. And so will mine, and yours. Don’t give up, Dear Believer. Give it all to God and let Him have the final say over your life. You will never regret it. He has worked marvelous things in me, and though me; despite all my hideous failures. He is our precious God of second, third and fourth chances. His mercies never fail.
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