Hope In The Unexpected

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

December 7th Sermon, Day 1

Christmas didn't start with comfort. It began with a government census that forced a pregnant woman and her husband to travel nearly 90 miles on foot. Mary and Joseph didn't choose this journey, yet it was exactly where God showed up in the most extraordinary way.

Life rarely unfolds according to our plans. We face unexpected detours, unwanted interruptions, and circumstances that feel anything but convenient. Yet these very moments often become the stage where God reveals His presence most powerfully. When we're exhausted from the journey we didn't choose, when we're displaced from our comfort zones, when everything feels uncertain - these are precisely the moments when hope can break through.

The same God who orchestrated salvation through a census and a crowded town can work through whatever unexpected circumstances you're facing today. Your current struggle, that unwanted change, or the path you never planned to walk might be exactly where God wants to meet you. Hope doesn't always arrive wrapped in comfort; sometimes it comes through the very situations that challenge us most. The key is recognizing that God is present even when - especially when - life doesn't go according to our script.

Today, instead of resisting the unexpected, consider how God might be preparing something beautiful through the very circumstances that feel most inconvenient. Your story of hope might be beginning right now, in the middle of whatever journey you didn't choose.

Bible Verse

'In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.' - Luke 2:1-7

Reflection Question

What unexpected circumstance in your life right now might actually be God's way of positioning you for something greater than you can imagine?

Quote

Sometimes the journey you didn't choose is the place where God shows up.

Prayer

Lord, help me trust that You are present even in the circumstances I didn't choose. Give me eyes to see how You might be working through the unexpected detours in my life. Help me embrace the journey with faith, knowing that You can bring hope through any situation. Amen.

Your Calling Still Waits

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 30th Sermon, Day 5

Three times Jesus asked Peter the same question: 'Do you love me?' For each denial, there was an opportunity for affirmation. For each failure, there was a chance for restoration. And with each 'yes' from Peter, Jesus renewed his calling: 'Feed my sheep.'

This wasn't just forgiveness - this was complete restoration to purpose. Jesus wasn't content to simply pardon Peter's failure; he wanted to restore him to his calling. The same man who had denied knowing Jesus was now being entrusted with caring for his people. This is the scandalous grace of God - he doesn't just forgive our failures, he transforms them into qualifications for ministry.

Peter's failure didn't disqualify him from serving God; it prepared him for grace-filled, humble ministry. His brokenness became the source of his compassion. His experience of failure and restoration equipped him to help others who would stumble along the way.

Maybe you've been living under the weight of past failures, thinking that your calling has been canceled because of your mistakes. Maybe you've convinced yourself that God could never use someone who has messed up as badly as you have. But Peter's story tells us something different: your failure doesn't cancel your calling.

Jesus knows the worst about you and still calls you. He sees your imperfections and still has a purpose for your life. The risen Lord stands on the shore of your life today and says, 'Let's begin again.' Your calling is still waiting for you to step back into it, not because you're perfect, but because he is faithful.

No failure is final when Jesus is involved. He doesn't erase the story, but he does rewrite the ending.

Bible Verse

'But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.' - Luke 22:56-62

Reflection Question

What calling or purpose in your life have you abandoned because of past failures, and how might God want to restore you to that calling today?

Quote Your failure doesn't cancel your calling. Your calling is still waiting for you to step back into it.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that my failures don't cancel my calling. Help me to step back into the purpose you have for my life, trusting in your grace rather than my own perfection. Use my brokenness to bring healing to others and glory to your name. Amen.

Breakfast On The Beach

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 30th Sermon, Day 4

Imagine Peter's surprise when he saw Jesus standing on the shore that morning. After his devastating failure, Peter had returned to what felt safe - his old life of fishing. But Jesus didn't wait for Peter to come to him. The resurrected Lord sought out his broken disciple and did something remarkable: he made breakfast.

This wasn't a formal meeting in a temple or a stern confrontation about Peter's denial. It was an intimate meal prepared by the Savior himself for the man who had publicly rejected him. Jesus could have chosen any way to address Peter's failure, but he chose the way of love, hospitality, and gentle restoration.

The fire Jesus built on that beach was different from the fire where Peter had warmed himself while denying his Lord. This fire represented warmth, provision, and welcome rather than compromise and fear. Jesus was showing Peter that he wasn't interested in punishment - he was interested in restoration.

What strikes me most about this scene is that Jesus prepared this meal not for the faithful disciples who had stood by him, but specifically for the one who had failed him most publicly. This is the heart of our God - he doesn't avoid our failures or wait for us to clean ourselves up. He walks straight into our mess with hands full of healing.

When we fail, we often assume we need to earn our way back into God's good graces. We think we need to prove ourselves worthy of his love again. But Jesus shows us a different way. He meets us in our shame with grace, in our failure with love, and in our brokenness with the offer of a new beginning.

Bible Verse

'But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.' - Luke 22:56-62

Reflection Question

How does it change your perspective on failure to know that Jesus actively seeks you out in your lowest moments rather than waiting for you to come to him?

Quote

The Savior of the world, resurrected in glory, made a fire and prepared a meal not for the faithful, but for the man who denied him.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for seeking me out when I fail rather than waiting for me to find my way back to you. Help me to receive your grace and love even when I feel unworthy of it. Thank you for preparing a place for me at your table even after my worst moments. Amen.

The Gift of Godly Grief

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 30th Sermon, Day 3

After the rooster crowed and Peter realized what he had done, he went outside and wept bitterly. These weren't just tears of embarrassment or self-pity - they were tears of genuine grief over his failure. And surprisingly, these tears became one of the most important spiritual moments of his life.

There's something powerful about the moment we truly see our failure for what it is. Not making excuses, not blaming circumstances, not minimizing the impact - just honest, heartbroken recognition of how we've fallen short. Peter's tears weren't just about getting caught; they were about the devastating realization that he had betrayed the person he loved most.

In our culture, we often try to move past failure quickly. We want to 'get over it' and move on. But sometimes the most important thing we can do is sit with our grief over our sin. Not to wallow in shame, but to let our hearts be truly broken over how our choices have affected our relationship with God and others.

Peter's bitter weeping was actually the beginning of his restoration, not the end of his story. Those tears represented a heart that still cared, a conscience that was still alive, and a love that was still real despite his failure. His grief showed that his relationship with Jesus mattered more to him than his own comfort or reputation.

When we fail, the enemy wants us to believe that our tears are evidence of our unworthiness. But God sees our godly grief as evidence that his Spirit is still working in us, preparing our hearts for the restoration that's coming.

Bible Verse

'But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.' - Luke 22:56-62

Reflection Question

When you fail spiritually, do you allow yourself to feel genuine grief over your sin, or do you try to quickly move past it without truly processing what happened?

Quote Sometimes the most important spiritual moment that you and I are going to have in our lives is the moment that we weep over our failure.

Prayer

Lord, give me a heart that grieves over sin the way you do. Help me not to run from the pain of failure, but to let it drive me back to you. Thank you that my tears matter to you and that you use even my grief for good. Amen.

The Distance That Destroys

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 30th Sermon, Day 2

There's a subtle but dangerous pattern that often precedes our biggest spiritual failures: we start following Jesus from a distance. Peter didn't wake up that morning planning to deny his Lord. The denial was the culmination of a series of small compromises that began when he chose to follow 'at a distance.'

When we maintain distance from Jesus - whether through neglecting prayer, avoiding Scripture, or surrounding ourselves with influences that pull us away from him - we set ourselves up for compromise. The farther we drift, the easier it becomes to make choices we never thought we'd make. Peter found himself warming his hands at the enemy's fire, literally and figuratively. He was trying to stay close enough to see what would happen to Jesus, but far enough away to avoid personal risk. This middle ground became dangerous territory where his courage failed him.

We do this too, don't we? We want to maintain our faith but also fit in with the crowd. We want to follow Jesus but not at the cost of comfort or convenience. We try to have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world, thinking we can manage both. The truth is, spiritual compromise rarely happens overnight. It's usually the result of gradual drift, small compromises, and the slow erosion of our spiritual disciplines. When crisis comes, we find ourselves unprepared, relying on our own strength rather than the power that comes from staying close to Jesus. Closeness to Christ isn't just about feeling good - it's about spiritual survival. It's about having the strength to stand when everything around us is falling apart.

Bible Verse

'But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.' - Luke 22:56-62

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life have you been following Jesus 'at a distance,' and how might this be affecting your spiritual strength?

Quote The farther we get from Jesus, the easier it becomes to compromise.

Prayer

Father, I don't want to follow you from a distance. Draw me close to you through your Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Help me recognize when I'm drifting and give me the desire to return to intimacy with you. Amen.