Digging Deeper: Do My Words Reveal that I Trust God?
“But Peter denied it…”
Matthew 26:70 (NLT)
DO MY WORDS REVEAL THAT I TRUST GOD?
A pastor laughed while telling the story of accidentally sending a text message complaining about a meeting—to the very person he was complaining about. After a moment of panic, he apologized immediately. Later, he joked, “Apparently the Lord wanted me to practice confession much sooner than I planned.”
Most of us have experienced moments when fear causes us to say things we later regret. Peter certainly did. In Matthew 26, Peter had boldly promised he would never deny Jesus. Yet only hours later, standing beside a charcoal fire, he denied knowing Christ three separate times. Why? Fear.
Peter feared what people might do more than he trusted what God could do. His words exposed the battle taking place in his heart. Thankfully, Peter’s story doesn’t end in failure. After the resurrection, Jesus lovingly restored him and used him to boldly proclaim the Gospel. That’s wonderful news for us: our failures don’t have to become our identity.
Trusting God often becomes most visible in ordinary conversations. We may not deny Jesus with our lips, but sometimes we remain silent when we should speak, compromise the truth to gain approval, or soften our convictions because we’re afraid of rejection. Courage grows when trust in God becomes greater than the fear of people.
Reflection Questions
- What fears most often influence your words?
- Where is God asking you to speak the truth with courage?
Suggested Prayer
Lord, strengthen my faith so that my words reveal confidence in You rather than fear of others. Amen.
Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.