Week 16: Are You Experiencing a Set-back or a Set-up?

I’ve never met a person who doesn’t long to witness a miracle—blind eyes seeing, a lame person walking, a beloved friend healed of cancer. I’ve read, however, the pre- requisite to a miracle is a problem. You can’t have one without the other—and most of us are not lining up for more problems.

Scripture encourages us to, “Give thanks in ALL THINGS.” My heart billows with thanksgiving when blessings abound. But when setbacks hit—I’m quick to complain, worry and wilt.

I forget God’s promise to work ALL THINGS together for good in my life. (Romans 8:28)

Though I may forget, the fact remains the same: Every circumstance we face has mutual contribution towards God’s good for us. God uses our hardest experiences, our deepest failures, and most devastating setbacks with as much finesse as He uses the celebrations, victories and successes of life as a set-up for his great purposes.

This truth allows me to view trials and setbacks with a sense of expectancy, “Father, I don’t understand this trial I’m facing, but I know nothing in my life is wasted or useless. Somehow, by your power, use this for good in my life—that you might be glorified through my life.” I train my soul to rest amid the trial, knowing God is still in control, He hasn’t forgotten me, and He will never forsake me.

The Bible shares an account of a teenage shepherd, David, who asked for the opportunity to head into hand-to- hand combat with the giant, Goliath. How did this inexperienced youth acquire this kind of audacious confidence?

His previous setbacks prepared him for that moment.

When lions or bears threatened to devour a lamb within his flock, he risked his own life to rescue that lamb from its mouth. So—when the Philistine giant threatened to devour the nation of Israel, David recognized his previous setbacks as a Divine setup, fueling him with courage to take on this greater challenge. He declared, “   The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (I can’t help but think killing a lion and a bear with his hands and a club looked pretty good on his resume when he stood before King Saul, offering to fight the giant, Goliath.)

Are you facing a setback today? I believe it has the potential to become a Divine set-up? God will always make good on His promise to include every trial you face in his greater purposes for your good and for His glory. Rest assured—that includes the trial you face today!