Your Faith Has Not Failed
June 26, 2017
"“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”"
(Luke 22:31-34 ESV)
Are you perplexed with this progression? Maybe so. Satan made demands. Jesus prayed. He prayed that Simon's faith would not fail, but he knew that Simon himself would fail. So he prayed that when Simon turned again, not if but when, he would strengthen his brothers. Simon protested he would not fail. Jesus said he would. It did not altar the hope, the expectation, or the reality of Jesus' prayer. He would also turn. His faith would not fail. His faith did not fail.
You have had, are having, and will have failures ... but it does not mean that your faith has failed.
It is your faith ... and the accompanying prayers of Jesus that are seeing you through, bringing you back, and ...
... preparing you to strengthen your brothers and sisters.