Do you ever get stuck feeling like God has no good use for you because you tend to get in the way? You might even be inclined to go out of your way in order to avoid God (like it’s even possible?!) because of your sin, disobedience, or shortcomings. Perhaps you are thinking you’ve wronged God so much that He could never trust you with His work, or pour blessings out upon you.

Such nonsense! God is God after all. He can and does fervently work in all of us (in obvious ways and in secret), and you can bet He is endlessly working in you. Not buying it?

Ok, take Peter for example. I previously wrote about the Gospel of Mark 8:27-33 and how Peter tells Jesus He is the Christ and then Peter straight up rebukes Jesus immediately after acknowledging that He is THE Christ. Well, this Gospel story resurfaced in Mass, but this time from Matthew’s account. In Matthew’s retelling of the events, he details Jesus giving Peter the keys to the Church in this same interaction.

Say WHAT?!

So let me get this straight… Peter acknowledges Jesus as THE Christ, and in his humanness Peter rebukes Jesus (according to Mark’s Gospel). STILL during this same encounter (according to Matthew’s Gospel) Jesus entrusts the keys to the Church to this same man?! As, in, Jesus hands the keys of the church over to Peter and trusts him to protect, care, and grow it for all generations that are to come? On top of that, Jesus also gives Peter the authority to bind and loose!

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [Matthew 16:18]

+ For further context read Matthew 16:13-20 +

It’s easy to feel we aren’t worthy of being entrusted with God’s BIG plans, especially when we know our own sinfulness. What you have done and what you have failed to do can’t prevent Jesus from having big plans for you and your life.

Accept His mercy, say YES and move forward with Him. You have big things ahead of you!