Can People Change?

Hillary Ibarra explores the Apostle Peter’s story to show how people can grow by the grace of God. 

When other people hurt and disappoint you, is that the end of their story in your eyes? No matter how much good they have brought into your life previously, does their grave mistake punch out the words "THE END"?  

When you fail and fail again, is that the end of your story? Should you give up on personal growth? 

Can God be patient with us as we keep trying to live by His words, even as our current painful circumstances thwart our progress?  

I have struggled with these questions in the past year, and the Lord pointed me to the Apostle Peter: What was the best version of Peter? Was it the Peter who walked with Jesus before he denied Him on Holy Thursday? Or was it the Peter post-denial who received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost? 

Our Faith Journey Is Blessed Despite Mistakes 

When Peter first encountered Christ, Peter was exhausted from a long night of fishing that yielded nothing. After obeying Christ and lowering his nets again, Peter was amazed by the great bounty of fish Jesus provided. He fell before Him and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). 

This happened at the beginning of Peter’s conversion, but great mistakes followed. For it was Peter who, after confessing Christ as the Messiah, then challenged God’s will for Him in His upcoming Passion. Jesus rebuked Peter with the words, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mark 8:33). Then at the Last Supper, Peter refused to let Jesus wash his feet until Jesus insisted it was necessary. Later, Peter stated that he would lay down his life for Jesus, but he betrayed Jesus in the high priest’s courtyard by denying three times that he knew him. After Christ’s crucifixion, he hid from the authorities with the other disciples. 

Peter also returned to his old way of life after the Resurrection when he said, “I am going fishing” (John 21:3). Some of his fellow disciples joined him, but just as in the beginning when Peter fell at Christ’s feet — amazed by the presence and generosity of the Messiah — the disciples caught nothing until Jesus showed up to provide the bounty. This time, Christ heals Peter of his three denials by asking Peter three times if he loves Him. 

Peter does love Jesus. His grievous denials of Christ and brief return to the familiar are not the end of his story. Faith is a long, complicated, blessed journey. 

Pentecost and Peter: the Holy Spirit Brings Out the Best in Us 

The best version of Peter showed up at Pentecost when the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. Peter, leader of the church, stood up and boldly proclaimed salvation through Christ. Because of his words, thousands converted and were baptized. 

This is a new Peter, set aflame with the Gospel mission. This is an emboldened Peter. A leader. No more denials. No more turning back to the former way of living. This is the Peter whose shadow can heal those upon whom it falls. (Acts 5:15)  

Like us, Peter loved Jesus, but sometimes he didn’t act like he did. Yet Christ did not give up on Peter. He did not slam the book on Peter after his denials. After all of Peter’s mistakes, Jesus still trusted him to lead His church and equipped him to do it. The most surprising thing about Peter is not that a fisherman became our first Pope; it is that a man who sometimes failed so dramatically still became the man that Jesus wanted him to be. Peter’s love for Jesus was so great because he understood how Christ’s mercy changed him. 

You may doubt that people can change, especially if you have been hurt by someone you trusted, someone you thought was following Christ. You may doubt that you can change if you are fighting to forgive yourself for your own failures. But we must remember: God would not have sent His only begotten Son to die and rise again for us if people can’t change. 

People can change because Jesus changes everything, just as He did for Peter. 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Hillary Ibarra
Images: Canva