From Stuck to Sent-How God Uses Your Second Chance

From Stuck to Sent—How God Uses Your Second Chance

Reflections on John 21:15–19 and Acts 9:10–20

Have you ever felt like you messed up too badly for God to use you?

You’re not alone. Peter did too. So did Saul.

Peter had promised Jesus, “Even if everyone else falls away, I never will.” But when the pressure came, he denied Jesus—not once, but three times. That failure haunted him. He knew Jesus had risen. He’d seen him. But restoration hadn’t yet come. He must’ve wondered, “Does Jesus still want anything to do with me?”

Saul was worse by comparison. He wasn’t just a failure—he was an enemy. He hunted down early Christians, dragging them from homes and throwing them in prison. He stood by, approving, while Stephen was stoned to death. He wasn’t on God’s team. He was actively working against it.

And yet, in both cases, Jesus shows up.

Not with condemnation.
Not with shame.
But with a call.

For Peter, it comes by the fire. Jesus cooks breakfast and asks three simple but powerful questions: “Do you love me?” Three times—one for each denial. And with every “Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” Peter is invited back into purpose: “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus doesn’t just forgive him. He recommissions him.

And Saul? Blind and helpless after his encounter on the Damascus road, he’s sitting in silence when God sends Ananias—a man who had every reason to fear him. But Ananias greets him not with anger, but with grace: “Brother Saul.”

That one word changed everything. Saul—soon to become Paul—received healing, baptism, and a mission. From persecutor to preacher. From feared enemy to faithful servant.

These stories remind us of a vital truth:
God doesn’t discard broken people. God sends them.

Your story may include failure, pain, or regret. But it is not disqualified. In fact, God may use that very part of your past to reach someone else.

God doesn’t waste your wounds.
He redeems them.

The grace of Jesus not only forgives us—it restores us. It doesn’t just say, “You’re not guilty.” It says, “Get back up. I’ve got work for you to do.”

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Action Steps for the Week:

1. Name Your Regret: Write down something you’ve felt disqualifies you from being used by God.

2. Flip the Script: Ask God how He might use that part of your story to bring hope or healing to someone else.

3. Share Grace: Reach out to someone this week who may feel stuck or ashamed. Speak life and hope over them.

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Closing Prayer

God of grace and new beginnings,
You see all of me—the good, the bad, and the broken. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for calling me “beloved” even when I feel unworthy. Help me to receive your forgiveness, walk in your calling, and live as someone sent to share your love. Use my life—every part—for your glory. Amen.

Want to find a welcoming Christian community to explore your faith and find your second chance? Join us at Monroe UMC, 206 East Avenue, Monroe, Ohio, on Sundays at 9:30 am and 11:00 am. Or online on our Facebook page or our YouTube channel.