It seems that each time I read the Bible, I come up with something new. It may not be a revelation to you, but to me, it seems like a buffet of knowledge each time I discover something I didn’t know. For example, last week I was reading and it suddenly occurred to me how relatable the Bible is. Now I realize that I probably should have come to this conclusion a long time ago, and I think to some extent I did. It just seemed to hit me in a new way last week.
I’m sure it’s just me, but when I read a story in the Bible about someone who has failed, I usually see the story as a warning not to do the things that were done. The story was written as a lesson to be learned. Don’t do this! But it suddenly struck me that I can totally identify with each person who missed it in each story or account that I read. For example, I read about Peter denying Jesus during his trial. Jesus had told Peter that he would deny him three times that night and Peter vehemently denied that he would ever deny Jesus. But here he was a few hours later, having done just that. He even swore! One of my first thoughts is one of condemnation. How could Peter act like this? He had spent the last three years following Jesus every day, and yet he not only denied even knowing him, but he accentuated his denial by swearing!
And then, I realized that I probably would have done the same thing if I were in Peter’s sandals. I have just seen Jesus arrested by a crowd of armed men and taken away. Now I’m waiting for word on what will happen to him. I’m not even sure why he was arrested! Here I am surrounded by a crowd of people I don’t know and I’m being questioned about my relationship with a man they see as a criminal. My first instinct would have been to laugh it off until I knew a little more about the situation. When questioned a second time, I’m sure I would have responded like Peter did. Are you kidding? Me? With Jesus? Who is Jesus? I mean, I’ve heard of this guy, but hang with him? Not me! And then when the third accusation came, I would most likely have panicked. I may have even sworn to emphasize my denial and to show that I could not have been with him. Because followers of Jesus don’t swear! Everyone knows that!
Then my mind turns to the story of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac to steal the birthright from his brother Esau. And I am reminded of the times when I have been dishonest in order to get something that I really wanted or I thought I deserved. How many times have I tried to argue with God about how qualified I was to do what he was telling me to do like Moses did? I’ve stood up for what is right like Joshua did when returning with the other spies from the land of Canaan. And then, just like him, I’ve seen my blessing delayed and felt like I was being punished for doing the right thing. Like David, I’ve been tempted by an alluring woman. Like James and John, I’ve shown pride and sought the best for myself. Like Thomas, I’ve often doubted that God was doing anything because I couldn’t see it.
The point is, I’ve acted just like the people in the Bible who have done it wrong. They missed it. Some worse than others, but each one acted in a way that was not the best way to act. Each one did something that they were not proud of. I doubt that any of them realized that their mistakes would be immortalized for thousands of years for all the world to see. But each one of 
them served a purpose in God’s plan. He used their mistakes and shortcomings to mold them into the people he needed them to be. Peter became the head of the church. Jacob became Israel, the father of the Jewish Nation and ultimately, Jesus. Moses led Israel out of captivity in Egypt. Joshua led Israel into the land that God had promised them. David was referred to as a man after God’s own heart. James preached the gospel after the resurrection and John gave us the book of Revelation. Tradition tells us that Thomas may have been the first missionary to India, spreading the gospel after the resurrection.
How many will remember me for the mistakes I made instead of the things I’ve done right? The good news is, in spite of my shortcomings, I still have potential in the Kingdom of God. Just as these people seemed to be disappointing in their service to God, their mistakes helped shape them into the people God intended them to be. Without missing it like they did, would they have turned out the way they did? Their mistakes helped shape their future character. This was the character that was necessary for them to fulfill their destiny in the Kingdom of God.
Don’t allow failure to shape your vision of yourself. Your present disappointments are creating the character necessary for you to fulfill your destiny as well. Just keep becoming the person that God needs you to be in order to accomplish what he needs to accomplish through you.
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Tom Rawlings is an Executive Coach to pastors and other leaders. Through his ministry, Homegrown Leadership, Tom, and his team also provide consulting services to churches. Tom has a passion for helping pastors and other ministry leaders grow healthy churches. Want to see if Tom can help you or your church? Use our contact form to reach out!
