Last Sunday, my pastor presented an incredibly timely sermon called "How to Turn Your Setback into a Comeback." I've watched some similar sermons before, such as this awesome sermon by Pastor Steven Furtick at Elevation Church. However, there was something about the timing and content of my pastor's message that made his sermon stand out to me. He presented several key principles on turning a setback into a comeback. As I did with the Father's Day sermon last year, I wanted to share a recap of this message because I think that the themes are applicable to many of life's situations: relationships, work, friendship, raising children, and more.
**The sermon starts at 4:14**
4 Ways to Turn Your Setback into a Comeback...
1. Take the Risk to Be Vulnerable
When we think about bouncing back from a challenge, we often try to forget about the difficulties we faced. We restrict ourselves from feeling our emotions or avoid conversations about our flaws and weaknesses. However, in order to fully recover from a tough period in life, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to feel our emotions and to admit our flaws. I'm not saying that you should wallow in despair forever, but if you don't allow yourself to be vulnerable and truly acknowledge how a setback made you feel, how can you truly ever recover and move forward?
2. Focus on your spiritual wellbeing
Reading scripture and spending time with God are two great ways to enhance your spiritual, emotional, and mental wellness. When we are spiritually, emotionally, and mentally well, we increase the likelihood that we can healthily recover from setbacks that we face in life. The more time we spend reading the Bible and praying, the more spiritually connected we become. As with mental health maintenance through therapy, I find that when I put in the work to be spiritually well, I'm better able to navigate setbacks in order to focus on the comeback.
3. Patiently Seek God's Direction
Impatience is probably one of my biggest flaws. If you're anything like me, you tend to know what you want and when you want it. But life often has ways of presenting situations that force us to wait. We must be patient. Even more important than just being patient is the necessity to be patient in seeking what God has for our lives. Many times when we feel that we know what's best. In reality, God reminds us in Jerimiah 29:11, "'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" If we remember this promise, the setbacks we experience in life become simply a redirection toward God's ultimate plan.
4. Be Confident That God is Working for Your Good
Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." When we encounter setbacks in life, it is important to remember that God is working. God's will for ourlives is that we prosper. But in order to turn a setback into a comeback, we must allow Him to be in control.
***********************
I hope you enjoyed this quick recap of the sermon from my church last Sunday. The four principles above have helped me immensely this week as I've tried to refocus and take things one step at a time. I pray that they'll help you as well!
Peace and blessings,
Atasha Jordan, MD, MBA
