November 9

Strength out of Weakness

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. — Luke 22:32 BSB

Peter was not lost during the terrible trial he went through. Christ had prayed for him, and Peter would come out of it humbled, bruised, and defeated, but still saved and made better. Jesus told Peter that once he was restored, he should use his experience to help others: "When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." He would be able to warn others about the dangers that had caused his own fall. We can imagine Peter later on counseling fellow Christians, warning them against overconfidence and the other missteps that had led to his denial. In this way, he would strengthen them and help them stay on the right path. There’s no doubt that his experience of repentance, and of Christ’s grace and love, equipped him to be a wise and compassionate guide to others who had also fallen and sought restoration.

This is an important lesson for us. All the lessons God teaches us should be passed on to others. When we receive help, we are meant to use our experience to help others. When God comforts us in sorrow, He calls us to comfort others with the same comfort we have received. When we fall into temptation, and God lifts us up and restores us, He wants us to help other struggling souls.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.