I’ve been sitting with Peter’s story lately. The night he denied Jesus. The fear in his voice. The weight of his grief. And if I’m honest, I see myself in him more than I’d like to admit.

Peter believed Jesus was the Messiah—he’d left everything to follow Him. But Peter also expected Jesus to conquer, to overthrow Rome, to rise in power. And when Jesus didn’t fight back… when He surrendered… Peter panicked.

I know that feeling.

There have been moments in my life when God didn’t show up the way I’d hoped. When the story I thought we were writing together suddenly turned. And I didn’t know what to do with the ache of that. The confusion. The loss of what I thought it would look like to be faithful.

Peter’s denial wasn’t about a lack of love—it was about disorientation. A trauma response. A moment when fear and unmet expectations collided. And I’ve been there too.

I’ve had moments where I’ve pulled back. Moments where I didn’t speak up. Times when I’ve questioned whether I really heard Him right. When I let fear speak louder than faith.

But here’s what undoes me: Jesus didn’t shame Peter. He didn’t throw his failure in his face. He met him in it. With gentleness. With restoration.

“Do you love Me?” Jesus asked.
Not to guilt him. But to give him back his voice. His place. His calling.

That’s the Jesus I know.
The one who restores us by name.
Who meets us not just in our strength, but in our failure—and says, Come back. Let’s keep going.

So if you’re in a moment like Peter—afraid, undone, unsure what comes next—I just want to say: your story’s not over. He’s not done with you. And the table is still set for your return.

Grace is still the loudest voice.