We Need Help
Scripture Reading: Numbers 30-31; Psalm 63; Mark 14
Mark 14 tells one of the saddest moments in the life of the Apostle Peter—his denial of Jesus. What makes Peter’s failure especially tragic is that it came despite his firm resolve to remain faithful to Jesus, even unto death.
Peter wasn’t, by nature, a weak or cowardly man. He was a fisherman—tough, hardworking, and accustomed to hardship. In the Garden of Gethsemane, it was Peter who drew his sword in an attempt to defend Jesus. Courage wasn’t his problem.
Yet despite his determination, Peter failed. He denied Jesus three times. Later, in the book of Acts, we see a transformed Peter—boldly preaching to the very people who crucified Jesus. He stands before the Jewish court and refuses to stop proclaiming Christ, even when threatened with prison. What changed?
It wasn’t simply remorse or a stronger resolve. Peter’s heart was already in the right place when he insisted he would never deny Jesus. His failure wasn’t for lack of willpower.
The real difference came with the arrival of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Spirit filled Peter and empowered him to live out the boldness his heart had always desired. The courage he needed didn’t come from within himself—it came from the Spirit of God working through him.
Christian courage isn’t a matter of personality or natural strength. Some people are naturally timid, while others seem naturally bold. But true courage—the kind that endures trials, confronts hardship, and remains faithful to Jesus—comes from the Spirit’s power, not from ourselves.
If you’re naturally timid, take heart—God can accomplish through you what you could never achieve on your own. If you’re naturally bold, let Peter’s story remind you that your strength isn’t enough. The courage that sustains a believer comes only through relying on the Spirit.
In the end, we all need help. And God graciously provides it through His Spirit.
