From Bleak to Amazing

Acts 9:27 -43

Have you ever done anything that you thought, “Boy, I really blew it this time, nothing can fix this!” Can you imagine how Peter felt when he had denied the Lord? He had loved Him, followed Him completely for 3 – 31/2 years. He had seen the miracles and even performed miracles but when the virtual rubber met the road, he failed! At one time or another all of us feel as if we have really blown it. When that happens we have a decision to make; do we believe in God’s grace enough to forgive and that His plan is still intact for us or do fail again and believe that there really is no hope?

After a period of time, Peter believed. When we allow God’s grace to work in us, we can learn to live in it and give it to others. That is Peter’s story. Life was pretty bleak the days after the crucifixion for Peter. Peter had to be convened by the Lord, in the famous “do you love me?” speech (John 21). Peter got it, believed it and made it work.

In this passage, we see Peter healing the sick and raising the dead and people expected it from him. He had gone from depression to joy, from bleak to amazing! It is a choice we all must make do we wallow in our sin and lack of self-forgiveness or do we believe in God’s grace and allow that grace to work in us.

All of us are going to fail at some point. The choice is what do we believe! God orders our steps; He knows our struggles and our failures! He knows what we are going through always and He knows how to get us out of it and through it, if we will allow Him. There are so many great things He wants to accomplish on this earth and He has chosen to use us. Often we stop Him from making it happen through us.

What are you battling today? What area in your life are you allowing to remain defeated? God has amazing things for you to do. Daniel wrote, “the people who know their God will be strong and do great things!” That is you and I! We will do amazing things and maybe even do them today if we will but trust the Lord’s grace for our lives.