Have you had a character failure that is shaping your future and limiting your accomplishments? (197-2)

Day 2 – A leader’s character is forged as much in failure as in success. Read Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75 and John 21:1-19.

When Jesus was arrested and standing trial before the Jewish religious leaders, Peter, one of His closest friends and a trusted disciple, was standing with others outside the court chambers to listen to the proceedings. Peter had promised Jesus he would stand by Him no matter the circumstance but now, when the powerful religious leaders were seeking to destroy Jesus and anyone that associated with Him, his character was facing a serious challenge. When the others outside the court chamber bluntly asked Peter if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter denied it and even denied ever knowing Jesus. Peter’s character failed in just about every way possible. In His great love for Peter, God used even Peter’s horrific denial of Christ to help him develop the strong character he would need to lead the early church.

Every person who leads for any length of time will have a character failure. It isn’t the failure that will keep a leader from reaching their full potential but rather how they handle the failure, what they learn from their failure, and changes in their core truths they cement because of the failure. Jesus did not allow Peter to create a core truth tied to his denial in the High Priest’s courtyard, but rather He helped Peter understand how deeply he really loved Him. Jesus helped Peter to see there are some things in life worth dying for. It was his failure that broke through Peter’s arrogance and allowed him to develop the depth of character to demonstrate his love for Jesus in all circumstances.

Have you had a character failure that is shaping your future and limiting your accomplishments? Every leader is important to God and God uses all the tools at His disposal, including failure, to forge steel into a leader’s character. If failure has you broken, it may be time to pray and ask God what He has been trying to teach you through this life experience. Effective leaders see failure as God’s smelting furnace that creates a better product from their raw materials.