Furious Chapter 5 Devotional

God’s Eternal Purpose

The night Jesus was betrayed, He turned to Peter and said something shocking:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32, NLT)

Jesus didn’t say if you turn back. He said when. Think about that.

Before Peter ever denied Him. Before the rooster crowed… Jesus had already seen the shame, the regret, the tears.

And yet—He didn’t revoke Peter’s calling. He reaffirmed it. “When you have turned… strengthen your brothers.”

Paul understood this too. In Galatians 1, he writes that God called him before he was born—before the persecution, before the violence, before the angry rejection of Jesus. God saw it all in advance. He knew exactly who Paul would be… and still, He called him. Why? Because God had already taken Paul’s future failures into account. And in His infinite wisdom, He wove even those into a plan that would turn Paul’s story into a testimony of grace.

The same is true for you.

You may feel like you’ve blown it. Like God’s moved on. Like your purpose died with your mistake. But hear this: God saw your entire story before you lived a single day of it—and still, He called you. He factored in every failure, every detour, every heartbreak. And somehow, in His mercy, He wove it all into a plan that will turn your tragedy into triumph in the end.

This is not an excuse to take sin lightly. But it is a reason to take grace seriously.

He is the God who redeems. Who restores. Who calls the weak and makes them strong. Who calls the broken and makes them whole. Who calls the fallen and lifts them up. So if you’ve fallen—get up. Your story isn’t over. In fact, He’s already written the next chapter. And it’s glorious!

🔥 Reflection

Do you carry guilt over something in your past? Have you felt like God can’t use you anymore because of what you’ve done—or failed to do? How does knowing He called you before you ever messed up change how you see His grace?

🙏 Prayer

Jesus, thank You for calling me by grace, not perfection. Thank You for knowing everything about me—and choosing me anyway. Help me to turn back, stand up, and move forward in the purpose You’ve planned for me since before I was born. Amen.

📣 Call-to-Action

Take time today to journal about one area of your life where you’ve felt disqualified. Then, over that page, write in bold letters: “He called me anyway.” Let that truth renew your sense of purpose. Share it with someone else who needs the reminder.