Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, March 30, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Recognizing when we’ve royally messed up can be devastating. I have struggled with perfectionism my whole life, and while I have come a long way in self-acceptance, I can still find myself emotionally imploding a little when someone calls me out on a misstep or mistake. In those moments, it’s critical that I feel my feelings and have self-compassion, but it’s just as critical that I don’t stay in that state. I need to move on and get back to work.
Which is what Peter eventually did. We don’t hear about him again until the resurrection, when he and the other disciples are still in hiding. But come Pentecost, Peter picks up the mantle of leadership and starts proclaiming the gospel of Jesus with all he’s got. And his earlier promise to go to the end with Jesus, even if it meant his death? He keeps it. Verifiable details of his death are sketchy, but it’s generally accepted that he was martyred by the Romans, as Jesus was.
The guy who dramatically and egregiously broke his promise to Jesus picked himself up and got back to work. Surely I can get past my shame at my own failings and keep on with whatever God has called me to do.
How do I handle mistakes and failures? How can God help me to pick myself back up and keep going?
