Where do you warm yourself?
Without a doubt, one of the lowest times in Peter's life was when he denied the Lord.
I find it interesting that when Jesus was first arrested, Peter was willing to fight to protect him. Yet later that evening, he denied three times that he even knew who Jesus was.
What happened?
Reading John chapter 18, may offer some insight into what shifted in Peter that night.
"You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" she asked Peter.
He replied, "I am not."
It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. John 18:17-18 (NIV)
I don't think John just threw these details into his gospel for some literary effect. Just like he tells us that when Judas leaves to betray Jesus, it was "night" (John 13:30) which shows Judas' spiritual darkness, the fact that it was cold and how Peter was getting warm has some importance beyond just story detail.
There is strength in fellowship. When we are going through some of the greatest trials is when we need each other the most.
Watch and see if there's a pattern, when you are having times of discouragement where are you "warming" yourself? Whose company do you keep? Is the company you seek out bringing you closer to Christ, or further away? Or do you try to stand alone, dealing with the attacks of Satan by yourself? How is that working for you? What happened to Peter?
As it says in Hebrews, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-35 (NIV)
We are a body, we need each other.
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." 1 Cor 12:6 (NIV)
