One of the things that I struggle with is the desire to be faithful in every area of my life. You might be thinking that is a good thing, but I beg to differ. I’m realizing that my desire to want to be faithful is connected to my desire for success. The reason why this is dangerous is because having self-confidence can lead to a lack of focus and sometimes depression when you fail. Many of us become depressed or lose passion to live life because our self-confidence was not prepared for failure. And when we fail, we lose focus and the discipline to live life. God teaches us that we must find our confidence in Him, rather than in ourselves. Our self-confidence hinders us from depending on God’s strength.
In the past few weeks, I’ve been struggling with my unfaithfulness. I’ve been feeling unfaithful in the area of not: reading enough, praying enough, and exercising enough.
I’ve been unfaithful as a husband by not appreciating Jenny enough. I realize how blessed I am to have a wife who completely supports my call to ministry, even if it means working a full-time job, raising the kids by herself while I am away traveling, or in a church meeting, and hosting many church events in our home.
I have been unfaithful as a father by getting easily hot tempered with Christina (my oldest daughter) because she doesn’t understand her third grade homework.
Sometimes, I wonder how God is holding things together in my life. Then a few days ago, I read a passage that ministered deeply to me: 2 Timothy 2:13: “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” 2 Timothy 2:13 breathed life into my soul because God is the one holding things together. Even when I am unfaithful, God is faithful because he cannot deny who he is. God is always faithful no matter how unfaithful I can be.
So the next time you think you are not being faithful as a spouse, leader in the church, and in your relationship with God, please understand that in the midst of your unfaithfulness, God will be faithful. This truth should actually give us energy and a focus to be a better husband, father, pastor, leader, and child of God. The energy and focus comes from our confidence in God and not in ourselves. This is the kind of faithfulness that God desires for you and me.
Thanks Pastor Peter! that’s was really encouraging. I’ve been struggling with that also. When I fail… I am distracted that the fact that I failed instead of turning to God and remembering that he is faithful to us no matter what. Thank you.
You’re a good pastor!