What to Do When I Mess Up: Lessons from Judas and Peter
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (John 21:17)
We all screw up sometimes, even when it comes to following Jesus. The Bible gives us two stark examples—Judas Iscariot and Peter—who both rebelled against Christ in their own ways. Their stories, straight from Scripture, hit hard and show us how to handle our failures. One chose despair; the other chose redemption. Let’s dive in and see what we can learn about picking ourselves up when we fall.
Judas Iscariot’s name is basically synonymous with betrayal. He was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, but he sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). How bad is that; handing over your teacher and friend for money (or was it more? maybe an entry in the future). After Jesus was arrested and condemned, Judas realized he’d failed. He tried to give the money back, admitting, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). But the religious leaders didn’t care, and Judas, drowning in guilt, threw the silver into the temple and went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5).
Judas’ story breaks my heart. He felt remorse, but instead of turning to God for forgiveness, he let despair take over. He thought his mistake was too big to fix, and that hopelessness led to a tragic end. I’ve felt that kind of guilt before—like I’ve let God down so bad there’s no coming back. How many friends, family members, or neighbors have said that exact thing to you? Too many people think they have committed too many sins to be saved so they do not pursue Christ. Judas reminds me that giving up isn’t the answer.
Then there’s Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, who also failed. Peter swore he’d be by Jesus no matter what, but when things got scary, he denied even knowing Him—three times, just like Jesus predicted (Matthew 26:69-75). When the rooster crowed, Peter remembered Jesus’ words, and it hit him hard. He “went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75). That moment of gut-wrenching regret is so relatable—I’ve been there, realizing I’ve let someone important down.
But here’s where Peter’s story takes a dramatic turn. After Jesus rises from the dead, He meets Peter and gives him a chance to make things right. In John 21:15-17, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”—one question for each denial. Each time, Peter says, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you,” and Jesus responds by telling him to care for His followers. It’s like Jesus is saying, “I forgive you, and I’ve still got work for you to do.” Peter’s remorse didn’t end in despair; it led to restoration. He went on to become a key leader in the early church, proof that no failure is too big for God’s grace.
Judas and Peter both rebelled against Jesus, but their responses couldn’t be more different. Judas let guilt consume him, while Peter sought forgiveness and embraced redemption. Their stories teach me three big lessons for when I mess up:
Run to Forgiveness, Not Away: When I fail—like snapping at a friend or ignoring what God’s asking me to do—I need to confess it and ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 promises that God’s “faithful and just” to forgive and clean us up. I don’t have to carry the weight like Judas did.
Grab Hold of Redemption: Peter’s story shows me that Jesus is always ready to restore. He didn’t just forgive Peter; He gave him a purpose. When I mess up, I need to let Jesus pull me back in and trust He’s not done with me.
Don’t Let Despair Win: Judas’ biggest mistake wasn’t just betraying Jesus—it was thinking his sin was bigger than God’s love. I’ve got to fight the urge to wallow in shame and instead turn to God, who’s all about hope and healing.
Judas and Peter’s stories are like a roadmap for handling my own failures. I’m going to mess up—that’s a given—but I don’t have to let it define me. Like Peter, I can own my mistakes, seek Jesus’ forgiveness, and let Him put me back on track. His grace is bigger than any rebellion, and that’s what keeps me going.
What about you? How do you deal with the times you feel like you’ve let God down? Let’s keep pushing each other to choose redemption over despair and trust in Jesus’ unending love.