Your Biggest Failure Can Produce Your Greatest Success - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - April 15, 2026

“When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 (NLT)

When you’re in the middle of a failure, it can seem like nothing good will ever come from it. But God can always bring good from your failures. In fact, your worst failure can become your greatest success. If you let him, God will use your failures to build his church!

Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32, “When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers” (NLT). 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 pointed him to the good God would bring out of 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 became a traitor to Jesus, while Peter chose to become a teacher and a leader. 

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (ESV).

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

What are you going to become in light of your failure? It’s your choice.

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Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

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