Chances are if you have a favorite character in the Bible, it might be because you identify with him or her. Maybe you see characteristics in the life of an Old or New Testament hero that inspire you or encourage you.

Perhaps their negative example is what encourages you--something along the lines of "If this person could be considered a hero of the faith, with the mess that he made of things, maybe there is hope for someone like me too." 

Isn't it amazing how Scripture provides us with so many real-life examples of men and women who lived in a particular time and place, at a specific juncture in history, who lived in relationship to God and others, who did some of that very well, and much of it rather poorly? 

Peter's life is a useful New Testament example to which we can often relate.  One of Jesus' disciples, he was Simon before Jesus proclaimed that he would be Peter "the rock," ("in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth" according to Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 16). Peter had just confessed Christ: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." 

Jesus, the ultimate Rock himself upon which the church was built, went on to invest in Peter by saying, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). 

The fact that Jesus acknowledged Peter as stable may not seem particularly remarkable until we study more about Peter's inconsistencies. There are numerous examples in Scripture in which Peter was bold, opinionated, and quick to jump rashly into situations. Yet he also could be steady and was quick to repent and be restored.  He "sinned big" but he "repented big" too. 

God was able to use the inconsistencies in Peter's life just as He can use ours.  Imagine how comforting it will be to a mentoree you are working with if she can see that your inconsistencies and inadequacies do not disqualify you for God's purposes any more than hers disqualify her!  

Do you remember the story about Jesus walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-32)? We smile with amusement at Peter's impulsive request to follow Jesus onto the water, but even though he lost his ability to walk on the water when he took his eyes off of Jesus and tried it in his own strength (a great lesson for us), he at least tried! 

How many of us would have stayed in the boat? This is typical of Peter--engaged, involved, following hard after Jesus, but then failing. 

How often do we see ourselves in this story?  We are inconsistent creatures--wanting to follow Jesus well and yet often failing in the midst of our best efforts. Like Peter, we can forget Who it is that we are looking to as we attempt something amazing! 

The life of faith is full of dichotomies.  In the book of Mark is the story of Jesus and the transfiguration. Peter, James and John had accompanied Jesus to a high mountain where Jesus' clothes became dazzling white and He was joined by Moses and Elijah. Peter's reaction was much as ours might have been; he seemed so stunned by the events that he was babbling.

The scripture reads, "Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened)" (Mark 9:5, 6).  We see Peter here as so human, so like us. It's refreshing to see that although God told Peter to hush and listen, Jesus continued to train, love and trust him.

When Jesus was predicting his own death, "Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said.  'This shall never happen to you!'  Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men'" (Matthew 16:22, 23).

Peter was one of the few who was with Jesus throughout his entire ministry and was specially chosen to pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane, though he couldn't stay awake. Even though he was one of Jesus' three closest friends, he did not always understand the things Jesus said and sometimes was an impediment to Jesus' mission.

All four gospels tell of one of Jesus' disciples cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant during Jesus' arrest.  Only John names Peter specifically but it's not inconsistent with Peter's characteristic rashness that he would have perpetrated that act.

Certainly Peter is most known for denying Jesus three times (Mark 14:66-72), and yet the key to his heart is his reaction. When the rooster crowed and he realized that what Jesus had told him would happen, had indeed happened, "…he broke down and wept."  

Peter was fully restored to fellowship after the resurrection when Jesus appeared to him, asking three times if he loved Jesus. Finally he commanded him to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17) which Peter did indeed go on to do faithfully.  In the book of Acts we see Peter preaching, teaching, healing and boldly defending his faith in the face of persecution.  He is indeed transformed. 

Simon, an ordinary fisherman and sometimes bungling disciple became Peter, the rock, who preached fearlessly to thousands, became a steadying influence upon the fledgling church, authored two letters included in the canon of Scripture and was martyred for his faith.   

How encouraging that someone so inconsistent could be used for mighty purposes. That means we can too! Yet let's be careful in defining "mighty purposes" too specifically. We don't have to be a writer of a New Testament book (in fact those jobs are all gone!) to be obeying what God has called us to. We don't have to aspire to walking on water with Jesus (no matter how briefly) to be considered faithful or bold.

Peter's example of being used in spite of himself should encourage all of us, whether we are taking baby steps or giant leaps, for we are called to be faithful in the small things.  May we hear, as the servant did in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, "Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things" (verse 23).

© Cary Campbell Umhau for Inspire! Women's Mentoring Ministries. Cary is a freelance writer and editor, Bible teacher and speaker.  She is a wife, mother and experienced mentor.  She has also worked professionally in catering, eBay sales, discipleship and marketing. She loves reflecting on the relevance of the Bible to the diverse and seemingly unrelated elements of our lives.