Nobody ever said the journey would be easy. Trials come. Struggles happen. But these are the very things that shape us into who we were meant to be.
In the third message of The Journey series, we explored The Trials—the everyday challenges that shape us, refine us, and teach us to trust God’s plan over our own. We looked at Matthew 16:13-28, where Peter experienced both a milestone of faith and a misstep that required a reality check from Jesus.
The Milestones: Celebrating Growth
Not all trials are bad. Some are growth moments and temperature checks. And we can celebrate these as milestones that show us how far we’ve come. When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter was the first to speak up, saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
This was a milestone moment for Peter. He didn’t get this answer from popular opinion or the friends around him. He did the hard, soul-searching work to hear from God. He took responsibility for his own faith.
What are the milestones in your journey? Maybe it’s the moment you first committed to following Jesus. Maybe it’s learning to trust Him in a difficult season. Maybe it’s overcoming an old habit or fear. These moments matter. They are signs that God is at work in you. And we should celebrate them with each other.
The Missteps: Learning from Failure
Not all lessons come from success—some come from mistakes. The very next passage after Peter's confession, he made a misstep. Jesus revealed that He would suffer and die, and Peter objected. He actually had the boldness to rebuke Jesus.
Jesus responded with some of the strongest words in Scripture: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
Peter’s mistake? His way of thinking was still shaped by earthly concerns rather than kingdom concerns. He let ego get in the way.
How often do we let our selfish way of thinking blind us to God's way of thinking? There's no room for ego when it comes to following Jesus. Ego will always lead to a misstep and a misalignment with God's mission and vision.
The good news? Missteps don’t disqualify you. They teach you. Even when you get it wrong, God’s grace is bigger than your failures. He doesn’t push you away—He realigns you instead.
The Reality Check: Surrendering to God’s Way
After rebuking Peter, Jesus gave him reality check. It was a teachable moment--not just for Peter, but for all His disciples: “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
This is the heart of The Trials. It’s not about getting everything right. It’s about growth. And growth requires humility, correction, and a willingness to relearn those pet beliefs that are actually wrong beliefs. And so, Jesus realigned them all--teaching them that kingdom thinking needed three basic elements:
Deny yourself – Let go of ego, pride, and personal agendas.
Take up your cross – Be willing to walk the hard path, knowing that suffering can lead to transformation.
Follow Him – Trust that His way is better, even when it doesn’t make sense.
These are hard things, which is why it is crucial that we have people in our lives to help us see where we’re off course. Peter had Jesus to correct and other disciples who walked with him. We weren't meant to do this alone. We need community. Who do you have in your life that helps realign you when you’re heading the wrong way?
Your Invitation
Are your expectations aligned with God’s plan?
Maybe you’ve been fighting with a difficult lesson instead of learning from it. Maybe a recent misstep has left you feeling stuck, unsure if God can still use you. Maybe you need a reality check—a moment to surrender your plans and trust His instead.
Take a moment to reflect:
Have you recognized the milestones of your faith journey? Do you celebrate the milestones of others?
Do you let missteps grow you instead of define you?
Are you willing to surrender your expectations and trust God’s path?
Trials are just steps along the Journey. But next week, we’ll explore The Breakthrough—the trial that changes everything.
Want to go deeper? Watch the full sermon and find sermon resources here:
Your journey is just getting started. Keep going.
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