RISE – 4 – Failure is Only a Bruise, Not a Burial

Happy Mother’s Day

Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano Tx
My name is Chris Fluitt and I am glad you are here.

Today we are going to talk about rising from failure.

I’ve failed. Not in theory—in real life. And some of those failures didn’t just sting… they felt like they ended something.

The truth is, I’ve had moments that felt like I blew it for good.
Moments that felt like the end.
Moments that felt more like a burial.

If you are a…
Parent
Leader
Tried to do something big or new…
Tried to achieve new heights…

You probably know that feeling of a failure that feels final… a failure that feels like a funeral

Ever think…?

“You’ve ruined it.”
“This is who you are now.”
“It’s too late.”
“I’ve let everyone down.”

We’ve all failed at something:

And that voice creeps in:

You’re done.
You missed your moment.
You blew it with your kids, your calling, your God.

BUT here is something I found to be true…

Failure is Only a Bruise, NOT a Burial

We have all had bruises.

A bruise is an injury caused by trauma. 

I invite you to rethink your failure as merely a bruise… and not a burial.

Let’s look at the disciple Peter—Jesus’ most outspoken follower.
Peter promised he’d die for Jesus…
But when it mattered most, Peter denied Jesus—three times.

Three times on the night Jesus was taken, Peter denied even knowing Jesus.

The big, strong, fisherman failed… he failed hard.

Luke 22:62 (NIV)

That’s failure. Public, personal, painful.

Jesus didn’t bury Peter in shame.
He restored him in love.

John 21:15–17 — Jesus meets Peter after the resurrection

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes Lord.”
“Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Do you see a lecture here?
A punishment?
A ‘told ya so?’

Just restoration.
Invitation.
A calling.

Peter’s failure was not his finish. It was the setup for his great comeback.

3 Lessons from Peter’s Story

1. Failure is a Detour, Not a Dead End

Peter went from denying Jesus to preaching the gospel at Pentecost in Acts 2.
God didn’t replace him—He REDEEMED and REDEPLOYED him.

Peter’s failure did not make him unusable.

Do not make the mistake of thinking your failure makes you unusable…

Powerful truth!
Proverbs 24:16: Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again

7 times a failure?
Rise 1 more time.
The Righteous Rise 1 more time.

1. Failure is a Detour, Not a Dead End

2. God Leads with Love, Not Guilt

Think back to the conversation Jesus has with Peter…
Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “Are you sorry?”
“Why did you betray me?”
“How could you be so weak?”
“Aren’t you ashamed?”

What does Jesus ask?

“Do you love me?”

When Peter failed, Jesus could have confronted him with condemnation:

But He didn’t.

Instead, Jesus asks Peter the same question three times:

“Do you love me?”

One time for each of the 3 denials.

This wasn’t to shame Peter—it was to heal the wound and replace the sting of denial with the strength of love.

Why this matters:

Guilt says: “You messed up, so you don’t belong.”
Love says: “You belong, even when you mess up.”

This is so important for moms, dads, leaders, believers of all kinds—because guilt will always whisper, “You’re disqualified.” But love says, “You’re still called.”

1. Failure is a Detour, Not a Dead End

2. God Leads with Love, Not Guilt

3. Jesus Turns Bruises into Breakthroughs

After affirming Peter, Jesus gives him a clear mission:

(John 21:15–17)

In other words:

Peter’s denial didn’t disqualify him—it equipped him.

He understood grace in a way few others could.

Peter did not deserve God’s love…
Peter would preach to people who also felt like they did not deserve God’s love…

So when Peter stood up in Acts 2 to preach the gospel to thousands, he didn’t preach from perfection—he preached from a healed bruise. GRACE!

And 3,000 people came to faith that day.

Why this matters:

You may think your failure makes you less useful.
But God often uses your most painful bruise as your most powerful ministry.

→ You can walk with someone who’s ready to give up on faith—because you understand the wound, and you know the way back.

1. Failure is a Detour, Not a Dead End

2. God Leads with Love, Not Guilt

3. Jesus Turns Bruises into Breakthroughs

Bruises not Burials 

Failure is Only a Bruise, NOT a Burial
Every one of them looked like they were finished… but they rose.

God wants you to rise.
God does not want to bury you.

So here’s the question:
What failure have you been treating like a burial… that’s actually just a bruise?

Jesus isn’t finished with you.
If He wasn’t finished with Peter, He’s not finished with you.

Redemption Church!
Let’s be a church where:

Jesus was bruised too. (Genesis 3:15)

The first prophesy about Jesus is Gensis 3:15

The Serpent ➡️ Crushed head.
The Son ➡️ Bruised heel.
Genesis 3:15

This is fulfilled in the Cross!
Jesus defeated sin and death forever.
Jesus was pierced on his heels.

Jesus turned a bruise into a victory. So can you.

✅ CALL TO ACTION

🎯 Bring the Bruise
-Stop pretending you’re not bruised. Bring it into the light and receive prayer.

🎯 Let Jesus Rewrite Your Story
-Ask the one who loves you to speak restoration over what you’ve given up on.

🎯 Help Someone Else Rise
-Your bruise might be someone else’s breakthrough. Use your story.