Message summary: Today consider comeback stories in your life.

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"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 22:62).

Tomorrow night is the first game of the 2026 World Series. The champion needs to win 4 of a possible seven games. No team has ever come back from being down 3-0 in a World Series but 22 years ago in the American League Championship Series the Boston Red Sox were down 3-0 against their arch rivals, the New York Yankees. It looked like Red Sox fans were in for another sport's heartbreak. But they came back winning four games (the only time that's ever happened) and then went on to win the World Series.

I'm sure inspired by comebacks. The word "comeback" is used in sports to describe an athlete or team that's behind and comes back to victory.  It has been described as "the single greatest aspect of competition that most embodies the spirit of what makes sport extraordinary".

This morning I visited with a comeback. Earlier this year Evan lost three fingers on his right hand in a saw accident but he was back to work in record time, choosing to overcome and provide for his family. His wife even bought him a shirt that reminds him and others of the dangers of a table saw!

I recall a time that I spoke to a group of supervisors at a meeting in a large lumber mill. The mill provided the chaplains a brief opportunity each week to share a devotional at this meeting. I find that sports are a great way to connect with men and I illustrated my message with a comeback story.

I shared with the employees how that we also have comeback stories in our own lives. It might be a comeback from a reckless lifestyle, an accident, or a spiritual failure. I acknowledged that many of these men likely had issues they overcame in life or those they still need to overcome.  I could see the men were listening intently. It's a great thing as a preacher to sense that you are connecting.

After the meeting a man came up to me and told me how much the message meant to him. I knew right away as to why the message moved him after he showed me his hand which had been seriously injured in an industrial accident. He was missing his fingers and part of his hand. He testified how he had comeback from the injury and was now holding down a productive job.

The above illustrations deal with physical comebacks, but let's now show an example of one who experienced a spiritual comeback. The daily text records Peter's spiritual failure in denying the Lord. His deep remorse is expressed in the phrase, "he went outside and wept bitterly". Peter was down but, praise be to God, he didn't stay there.

Peter has a remarkable comeback story. He was restored and came back to be a leader in the early church and wrote two letters that are in the Bible.

Today consider comeback stories in your life: issues that seemed so insurmountable but you dealt with them and with God's help you learned to overcome. It's a willful choice you make every day. That's part of your testimony. And if you are presently dealing with some situation that seems hopeless, always keep the faith! God is ready to forgive and restore. If Peter could come back after his disgraceful fall you can as well regardless of the situation you are dealing with!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, Your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, is the supreme Overcomer. The odds were stacked against Him from the first breath He drew on earth in His incarnate nature. He was hated, pursued, beaten, forsaken, lied about, suffered abuse at the hands of those whom He died for, yet He did not abandon the mission for which He came to earth - to die on the cross and rise to life again so that we might find forgiveness for our sins and inherit life eternal. But until the day You call us home we will deal with troubles of all kinds on this side of eternity, those we bring on ourselves and those not of our own making. But through Christ we can be more than conquerors through Him who loves us and gave Himself for us. Praise You, Father, that nothing we lay at Your feet is too difficult for You. Amen.

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