Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32, “When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers” (TLB). Before Peter had even failed, Jesus gave him a vision of how God could use his failure for good.

After Peter’s failure (when he denied Jesus three times), Jesus died and then was resurrected. And when he and Peter met again on a seashore, Jesus reminded Peter of how good could come from his failure. Here’s how the conversation went:

^“Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep’” (John 21:15-17 NIV).

Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Why did he ask that three times? He was giving Peter the opportunity to make up for the three times he had denied Jesus.

And each time, Jesus gave Peter another way he could use his failure for good: “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.”

On the same night that Peter had denied Jesus, another disciple, Judas, also failed Jesus. But, ultimately, Judas chose to become a traitor to Jesus, while Peter chose to become a teacher and a leader of Jesus’ church.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT).

God is building his church on people who’ve failed. In fact, God only uses failed people—because there aren’t any perfect people!

What are you going to become from your failure? It’s your choice.