There are moments in life that you wish you just had back. Either an inappropriate action taken, an unkind word spoken, or a silly decision made – life is full of these “I want to get on a plane right now and fly to a foreign country” moments.
Along the journey of advancing the kingdom of God, mistakes are going to happen. Why? Because we are imperfect people, period.
I make mistakes – often. In the leadership positions that God has place me, I often make unwise decisions, say something that is just “outrageous,” or do something that is honestly dumb. It happens. I’ve come to accept the fact that I'm going to make mistakes.
But I think the key in Kingdom advance is not to let these discouragements paralyze us from continuing on in the journey. The problem with mistakes, foul-ups, and failures is when we don’t learn from them or become so “self-focused” that we forget whom we are serving: God.
In the words of John Piper:
“The tragedy is that Satan uses the guilt of these failures to strip you of every radical dream you ever had, or might have, and in its place give you a happy, safe, secure, American life of superficial pleasures until you die in your lakeside rocking chair, wrinkled and useless, leaving a big fat inheritance to your middle-aged children to confirm them in their worldliness. That’s the main tragedy.”
In other words, the great tragedy of failure is feeling “disqualified” from serving the Kingdom. The thoughts go something like, “I’m not good enough to really serve God and His purposes. I mess up too often. Therefore, I'm not going to try anymore.”
One of the most encouraging characters in the Bible is Peter. I mean, this guy was constantly screwing up. For example, when Jesus is arrested, Peter draws out his sword and strikes the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus rebukes Peter and tells him to put his sword away. In another example, Peter denies Jesus three times! And perhaps the worst situation: Jesus responds to one of Peter’s comments by saying, “Get behind me, Satan!”
But what does God do with Peter: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).
Peter did not allow his mistakes to paralyze him from doing the work of God. He focused on God and was used to establish the early church.
Imperfect people used by God to carry out His perfect plan. Thank God!