Epic Fail

My daughter has picked up this new phrase since going to college. It makes me laugh, and I like being able to not take failure so seriously. So I thought it would make a good title for this post.

"And you are those who have stood by me in my trials" Luke 22:28

How can Jesus make such a statement to these disciples just after they had been caught arguing about who was the greatest?! I know that Jesus isn't lying, but how can He say this? Really? In just a little while these men will abandon him, scatter like sheep and leave Him alone. Jesus knew perfectly well what was going to happen, even giving Peter the details of how he would deny knowing Him. They may fail Him in the near future, but they are not always going to be so cowardly. Soon they'll be speaking boldly in front of all audiences, going to prison, being tortured and killed. The name of Jesus will rock the known world because these men will fearlessly speak of Him.

Does the Lord speak confidently because He knows the power of God to transform them? Is that how He is able to look beyond severely disappointing behavior of those closest to Him and not be discouraged by their failures?

Everyday I am the recipient of this hopeful confidence. The Lord makes this outrageously hopeful statement about us: "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him" (Ephesians 1:4). I certainly don't feel holy and blameless, I absolutely don't act it and would never think of myself that way, but I believe He sees me that way. My failures cannot limit the hope of what He does to change me.

Might we, in turn, show this same attitude towards our children, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our husbands when they disappoint us? It's hard not to get caught up in all the negative, not to focus on the failures. Can we go so far as to say positive things, no matter how outrageous they may seem? Can we speak hope to them without dwelling on their mistakes, and not wonder if we are lying? Can we look to the future, not on the basis of their ability to change, but on the basis of knowing Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His resurrection power?