Grace is Waiting
- Van Smith
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
There’s a moment in the Gospels where two men fail Jesus in very different—but very human—ways.
Judas betrayed Him with a kiss.
Peter denied even knowing Him.
At first glance, their sins feel different in weight, but when you look closer, both are rooted in the same struggle we all face: fear, disappointment, and trying to take control when things don’t go the way we expected.
Judas had walked with Jesus, seen the miracles, heard the teaching—and yet when things didn’t unfold the way he thought they should, he chose to turn away. His regret was real, but instead of running to Jesus, he ran from Him.
Peter, on the other hand, also failed—three times, in fact. Around a fire, in a moment of pressure, he denied the very One he loved. But Peter’s story didn’t end there. When the rooster crowed and reality hit, Peter didn’t hide forever. He wept, yes—but later, he ran back toward Jesus.
That’s the difference.
Both men messed up.
Only one came back.
And that’s the heart of the Gospel: it’s not about never failing—it’s about what you do after you fail.
Jesus already knew Peter would deny Him, and He still loved him.
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and He still reached out to him.
The same is true for you.
Maybe you’ve had moments where your faith felt weak…
Maybe you’ve stayed silent when you should’ve spoken up…
Maybe you’ve made choices you wish you could take back…
You’re not alone.
The question isn’t, “Have you failed?”
The question is, “Will you come back?”
Because grace is waiting.
Jesus didn’t restore Peter because Peter was perfect—He restored him because Peter returned. And that same invitation is open today. No matter how far you feel you’ve drifted, you can come back to Him.
And you don’t have to walk that journey alone.
We’d love for you to join us at New Hope Dalton this Sunday at 11am. It’s a place where real people, with real struggles, come together to find real hope in Jesus.
Come as you are. There’s a seat for you.
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