For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. Proverbs 24:15
Dear People Who Keep Company with God,
God wants us to learn that while we can fail, we are not failures. We do not have to stay down when we fall, but we can get back up and keep going. Nobody wants to experience loss, as it can be embarrassing and cause us to lose confidence; failure can either help us or hold us back. Our mistakes do not determine who we are. While they may leave a mark, they should not define us. The Bible documents the shortcomings of many significant figures in God’s story, yet they are still revered as spiritual heroes.
As a new believer, I was deeply impacted by the life of John Mark. He was born into a wealthy family deeply devoted to Jesus Christ, and his home in Jerusalem was a center for Holy Spirit activity (Acts 12). John Mark was related to Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) and was selected as an assistant to Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13). He abandoned them when things got tough, which caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas and led to a broader disagreement within the church community (Acts 13). As a result, Paul shunned John Mark (Acts 15). Despite having great potential, John Mark failed to take advantage of his opportunities and caused much hurt.
Eighteen years after the fateful mission trip, Paul had a different opinion of John Mark. In a message to the Church in Colossae, Paul urged them to welcome John Mark as a fellow worker (Colossians 4:10). Later, toward the end of his life, Paul requested that Timothy bring John Mark to him because he found him useful for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Paul’s perception of John Mark underwent a complete transformation, from rejection to reliance, which is a powerful testimony to the redemptive power of God.
Paul had a valid reason for changing his attitude towards John Mark. Following John Mark’s unsuccessful mission trip, he was mentored by a man who knew failure well: Peter, who became his spiritual father (1 Peter 5:13). This discipleship with Peter transformed John Mark’s life, culminating in his authorship of the Gospel of Mark, inspired by his relationship with Peter. The story of John, Mark, Paul, and Peter is a testimony to the power of discipleship in turning our failures into successes.
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus invited everyone to become His disciple by saying, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” A yoke is a wooden device placed over the necks of two animals, with the untrained animal following the lead of the trained one. We can apply this to our lives by seeking guidance and mentorship from mature followers of Christ. By learning from them, we can grow in our faith and become better versions of ourselves. This is the Lord’s way of turning our setbacks and letdowns into opportunities for growth and experiencing success in the Kingdom of God.
Many Blessings, BW