Day 6
Getting Out of the Swamp
John Bunyan’s book Pilgrim’s Progress chronicles a Christian in his travel through life on his way to the Celestial City, Heaven. Along the way, Christian gets stuck in the Swamp of Despondency.
One of the most difficult emotional swamps to overcome is regretting something from your past that you simply cannot undo. A regret will keep you up at night. A regret will impact the way you see other people. The more personal and public your action that caused the regret, the deeper the pain. We can get stuck!
The day following Jesus’s trial and crucifixion was the most difficult one for the Apostle Peter. He had boasted to Jesus in front of his friends, “Peter told Him, ‘Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.’” Matthew 26:33 (CSB) Then Peter denied he even knew Jesus three times. The last one with cursing!
Jesus is dead and buried. Peter can never take back his abandonment of Jesus. Peter can never ask Jesus for forgiveness. Peter can never forget that when his friend Jesus needed Peter the most. In fear, Peter abandoned Jesus!
Mark 16:5-7 (CSB) “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. 6’Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them. ‘You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put Him. 7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.'”
The angel emphasized for the women at the Resurrection, be sure to tell Peter. Peter cannot erase his fearful abandonment of Jesus. But Peter will get an opportunity to ask for forgiveness. And most of all, Peter will get another opportunity to make amends for what he had done!
Acts 4:13,18-20 (CSB) When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Peter got himself into the swamp of despondency and regret. Jesus lifted him out! He will lift you, too!
John Bunyan’s book Pilgrim’s Progress chronicles a Christian in his travel through life on his way to the Celestial City, Heaven. Along the way, Christian gets stuck in the Swamp of Despondency.
One of the most difficult emotional swamps to overcome is regretting something from your past that you simply cannot undo. A regret will keep you up at night. A regret will impact the way you see other people. The more personal and public your action that caused the regret, the deeper the pain. We can get stuck!
The day following Jesus’s trial and crucifixion was the most difficult one for the Apostle Peter. He had boasted to Jesus in front of his friends, “Peter told Him, ‘Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.’” Matthew 26:33 (CSB) Then Peter denied he even knew Jesus three times. The last one with cursing!
Jesus is dead and buried. Peter can never take back his abandonment of Jesus. Peter can never ask Jesus for forgiveness. Peter can never forget that when his friend Jesus needed Peter the most. In fear, Peter abandoned Jesus!
Mark 16:5-7 (CSB) “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. 6’Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them. ‘You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put Him. 7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.'”
The angel emphasized for the women at the Resurrection, be sure to tell Peter. Peter cannot erase his fearful abandonment of Jesus. But Peter will get an opportunity to ask for forgiveness. And most of all, Peter will get another opportunity to make amends for what he had done!
Acts 4:13,18-20 (CSB) When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Peter got himself into the swamp of despondency and regret. Jesus lifted him out! He will lift you, too!
Posted in 40 Days - 2022