Overcoming Setbacks

 

By Andrea Merrell

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive

the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:14 NLT

 

“We’ve had another setback,” the man said to his faithful team. “We’ve had so many that I’m abandoning this project. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m done.”

This man walked away from his God-given calling. Sorrowful. Defeated. Feeling like a complete failure. A nobody. Questioning his very existence.

The story made me wonder how many times I’ve done that in my own life. How many times have I allowed a little problem to throw me off course and cause me to give up on what I felt called to do?

This road of life is paved with setbacks. Bumps in the road. Look at the life of Paul. He was beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked. He faced trouble continually, but he never gave up, never backed down. He knew God’s plan for his life and refused to let anyone or anything keep him from fulfilling it.

I’ve heard people say things like, “I don’t even know why I’m here. Why was I born?”

The fact is none of us are here by accident or just to take up space. God created us as unique individuals with a specific assignment that no one else can fulfill.

As children of the Most High God, the Bible calls us overcomers (1 John 5:4). Why? Because we keep moving forward with our eyes on the Lord, overcoming every setback, every obstacle the world throws in our way.

Let’s press on as Paul did—no matter what—toward the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

 

 Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash