Well, it sure caught my attention. I was reading a devotional by my pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress and I read this thought:

“Nobody stubs his toe standing still.”

Interesting comment. And what is wrapped around that thought is the idea that mistakes will come. Problems will arise. We will sometimes fail. That “stubbed toe” is a sign that you are moving forward, active, trying to get somewhere.

Suppose you are walking through your house to go to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and you hit your toe on a table leg. Ouch. Been there, done that. There might be some hopping around and grabbing of the painful toe. And then you would probably just limp on into the kitchen to get that cup of coffee.

Imagine, though, that you just sat down on the floor and said to yourself, “That’s it. I’m done. I sure won’t try that again. I guess I’ll just give up coffee. In fact, I think I’ll just carefully retreat to my room and never come out.” Crazy. Silly. Yet sometimes we do similar things when we stumble in our work and ministry.

As has been said by others…failure isn’t final. That is such good news. And it isn’t just positive thinking, it’s the truth from the Lord Jesus.

One of the most poignant passages in scripture has to do with failure. Predicted failure. You remember Peter…who often said things without fully thinking them through…saying to Jesus at the last supper, “Lord, you can count on me…even to the point of death.” Jesus responded to him with words that had to upset his disciple.

“Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Luke 22:34 NLT

Here is the passage that touches me from the events that had happened just a few hours after that encounter in the upper room. Peter had made his way to the courtyard of the high priest where Jesus had been taken by the Jewish guards. Three different people had tried to link Peter to Jesus. Each time, Peter quickly denied he even knew Jesus, the third time in rather strong language.

And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. Luke 22:61-63 NLT

Denial. Defeat. Failure. I’m sure when Peter’s eyes met the Lord’s gaze he immediately thought his life and worth as a disciple of Christ was over. He did far more than just stub his toe. It was a big-time, predicted failure to which he had succumbed.

Yet after Christ’s resurrection Peter found himself on the beach with the Savior, and Jesus made a point of restoring Peter. Three denials? Three times the Lord gave Peter an assignment. Feed my lambs. Take care of my flock. Feed my sheep. Restored. Set back on path to God’s goal.

Failure is NOT final…not in God’s economy. Yes, it may hurt. Yes, there are lessons to be learned. But if our eyes are on the goal…serving Christ at all cost…a little failure should not sideline us for God’s purpose. We see the obstacle. We learn to navigate around it or avoid it. But we move on.

If you have stubbed your toe…get over it. Keep your eye on God’s goal…and keep moving forward. It’s what Jesus wants you to do.