Setback or Set-Up?

Ever thought you knew exactly where God wanted you or what He wanted you to do, but things just didn’t work out?  Of course you have.  This is often the story of ministry and serving God.  Too many times to count, I have found myself at the end of a path (or at least what looked like the end) with the words “… but God!  I thought I was where I was supposed to be.  I thought this is what you wanted from me.  I thought you were in this.”  And in that moment the voice of accusation comes, the voice of the enemy.  “Who do you think you are?  You are the problem not the solution.  Like God would really choose you!”  and so may others not worth repeating.  And in the pain and silence of the moment, in the quiet desperation of feeling lost, we have a choice.  We can give up and give in or we continue to lean on God for further understanding.

You see, in my story, and in yours as well, our perception of the moment is not always accurate, more likely it is rarely accurate.  What looks like the end, may actually be the precipice of something new, something supernatural, something amazing.  Recently I heard a speaker say “Every advance in the Kingdom of God was precipitated by a setback.  It’s not a setback, it’s a set-up.”  WOW!

You don’t have to look very far in the story of God to find examples of this, but one of the most obvious ones would be the story of Joseph.  From being sold into slavery by his brothers to being the 2nd in command of Egypt, there were an awful lot of setbacks along the way, but each one led to the next big step forward.

This is true in my story and in yours too. 

If you’ve recently reached a next step after a hard season I would love to celebrate you.  Way to run the race, stay in the fight, exercise your faith, and lean into God.  Your life, your ministry, your calling, your purpose will be better for it and you are taking the next step in the living the life God has for you. Great job!

If you are currently nearing the end of path that looks like it’s a dead end, and you fear you may have missed the mark, can I say this:  Way to run the race, stay in the fight, exercise your faith, and lean into God.  Your life, your ministry, your calling, your purpose will be better for it and you are taking the next step in the living the life God has for you. Great job!

How can I say the same thing?  Because it’s true in both cases.  Your journey isn’t over and what feels like a setback right now will not end that way.  Your job is to lean into Jesus and move, He will take care of the rest.  He is a God that makes a makes a way when there is no way, trades beauty for ashes, has plans to prosper you and not to harm you… EVERY TIME!