Or maybe they are so painful that rather than confront them we refuse to admit that we even have a problem. Or, maybe we lack faith. Like Peter, when this happens we must recognize our failure and accept our Lord's continued calls to follow him. Failure to do this leads to lives that may be filled with religious activity, but with little of the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ. Peter was at a pivotal moment in his life.
Churches also face such challenges.
A church is a collection of individuals. And so the quality of spiritual life in a fellowship is a reflection of the decisions made by the members. As we take stock of where we are as a fellowship we can ask what was the fruit of our previous teachings. Most of us were driven by a sincere commitment to please God. But we lacked the reality of an intimate walk with our Savior.