Everyone loves a good comeback story. And I can think of no better example of a comeback than that of Mark, in the New Testament. I’m biased toward Mark for two reasons: (a) my parents named me after him (erroneously thinking he was one of the twelve apostles), and (b) his is a comeback story.
On Paul’s first missionary journey, Mark took a wrong turn, leaving the team behind. So great was Paul’s disappointment that he never took Mark with him again. But something must have changed, because among Paul’s final recorded words was this request: “Pick up Mark and bring him to me, for he is useful for me in ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).
Did you hear that? A deserter, coward, and failure was “useful for ministry.” I would argue that God used Mark, not despite his failures, but because of them.
If you have taken a bad turn in life, know this – what you see as a dead end, God sees as a glorious detour.
Recovery Step: Let God write another great comeback story – with your name on it.
