When Jesus prayed for Simon (he did not call him "Peter" that time) concerning the awful trial and failure that lay ahead of that impulsive man, that his faith fail not, he had in view the benefit Simon could do afterwards to those who had sinned and lost courage, for he added: "When thou hast turned again, strengthen thy brethren." So Peter learned the futility of self-confidence and the value of faith. He came out very much humbler, and with his hope set on God rather than on the strength of his own character; and when a man learns that lesson, he finds peace and joy. Peter, therefore, sets about to "strengthen his brethren;" and the first epistle of his breathes faith, hope, humility, joy and peace. He has tasted the power of faith, and now he assures the Christians that "by the power of God" they "are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Pet. 1:5.) He has a wholesome fear [205] of the power of the devil, our adversary, who "as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;" and he points out the only effective resistance--not self-confidence, in which he fell and failed, but "whom resist steadfastly in your faith." (1 Pet. 5:8, 9.) He places all the weight now on what God can do, not any longer on his own ability; and trusting in the power of Him that called him, he walks the waters of a tempting, sin-cursed world, as once at the Savior's call he walked upon the waves of the Sea of Galilee. The trials that befall now are just the proof, the test, of that precious faith in God (1 Pet. 1:7), and the salvation with all it means is "the end of your faith" (verse 9). So believing, he finds "joy unspeakable and full of glory." Would that all of Peter's faltering brethren would see and get their feet on this rock! For this he wrote it--that he, having turned again, and standing by faith, might establish his brethren. (Luke 22:32.)

[TAG 205-206]