Never say never. Sound advice, but do we follow it? Like many, you have probably done exactly what you said you’d never do. Perhaps it wasn’t an action but a statement. You crossed a line you thought you’d never cross. And here you are, wondering how it happened and what you’ll do next. In these times, the harsh reality of our failure becomes so pronounced and life-altering. 

For me, the clearest example is the Apostle Peter. Peter, who thought he would do anything for Jesus, couldn’t see that his fortitude was lacking. Jesus told Peter that he would deny him not just once but three times. Peter, so sure of himself, declared that it would never happen. In fact, even if he had to die on a sword, he would do that for Jesus. Well, if you’re familiar with the story, Peter did deny Jesus, and no, he didn’t die on a sword. His resolve to be the kind of man who would stand up for his friend wasn’t there. What he thought he could do, he couldn’t. His resounding NEVER soon became a stark realization that he hadn’t done what he was so sure he could. He didn’t have the strength he thought he did. And so it is with us as well. Sometimes we need to be tested to see what we’re capable of and what we are not.

I’m sure each of us has failed to do or say something we thought we would never do. We’ve crossed a line we thought we would never cross, and yet here we are. But in the end, it’s not failure that defines us; it’s getting back up and moving forward again. We all fail, but do we get back up? It’s called forgiving ourselves, picking up our cross, and carrying on. We allow ourselves to learn from these choices, not as setbacks but as springboards that propel us forward. Remember this. It may not be your fault that you’re down, but it is your fault if you don’t get back up. That, then, is the key, the getting back up part. Look at Peter. He went on to do great things for Jesus. So can you. Think about it.