You Are Never Alone Week 6 — God Is with You When You Need Grace

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. — Hebrews 13:5

No one makes it through life failure-free. ~ Max

Hey, friends! Wow, here we are at week six of the You Are Never Alone OBS already! This is the final stretch. This week we’re tackling the most meaningful topic to me: failure.

Can you imagine what the first Easter week was like for the disciples? The drama of triumph to trauma, the panic, the confusion, the agony. I would have run, too. I have run.

Are you one of those, like me, who watch The Passion of the Christ every year? Yes, it’s gory, but I need the reminder of what Jesus did for me — the failure. As His disciple, I relate with those first men and women who followed Him and then completely bailed out when it mattered the most. Especially my soul brother, Peter.

Someday, in Heaven, I hope we get to snoop a video of Jesus’ private talk with Peter because it’s probably one of the dearest moments of his life. Have you had a breakfast-on-the-beach-with-Jesus moment, too? That moment of forgiveness and compassion… when it’s so very undeserved…

I’ve turned my back on the Lord. Rebelled. We have such slippery euphemisms for sin, don’t we? Getting “loose in the turns”, making “mistakes”, “lapsing”, “offending”, “erring”. But, I know me, and it’s just vile sin. Turning from God. Not choosing Him. Running.

Should you be disqualified because of your failures?

Jesus desired to restore the heart and ministry of Peter. He perceived the layers of guilt and shame on the heart of His friend. As if, with a cotton swab of grace, He began to wipe them away. ~ Max

That’s what He does. He restores. He reaches down to the bottom of whatever hole we’ve dug and pulls us out, dusts us off, and asks us an important question: Do you love Me? He sets His beloved on our feet again. On mission.

Feed My lambs… Tend My sheep… Feed My sheep. — John 21:15-17

You know I love You, Lord. Even though I fail.

Friends, let’s head in the direction of Jesus. Obey. Trust. We are never alone. Not even in failure.

Restoration is ours in Jesus. Like Peter, God will give us unbelievable restoration.

Believe in Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed One, the Son of God. ~ Max

Jesus is with you! You are never alone.

This week in your study:

1. Watch the video for session six of You Are Never Alone on our study home page and take notes in your study guide on pages 111-119 and then stick around for the chat!
2. Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 121-129.
3. Join the conversations about this week’s teaching in our private Facebook group.

Scriptures this Week

John 20:25
Mark 8:31
Mark 9:31
Mark 10:34
John 20:1
John 20:2
John 20:8
John 20:5
John 20:7
John 21:9
John 21:12
John 21:15
John 21:16
John 21:17
John 21:25
John 20:31

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, we love You. Thank You that You never leave us. Never! Thank You that even though we stumble, fall, fail, and sin over and over again, You forgive us. You restore us. You still use our lives to show Your glory! Thank You, Jesus. We love You. Amen.