“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)

Few lives have ever been spared from setbacks . A setback is an event that happens to any life usually after seeking something in earnest only to meet failure or disaster. Setbacks can be disorienting, and bring a terrible anguish. After all, we all know of people who went for weeks feeling despondent after their favorite football team lost a game. But that is a game; there are those who lose out on getting a good job, a proposal turned down, a battle lost, and with
one having spent all his energy, is left crushed.

The Bible has some striking cases of dealing with setbacks. After King David had been informed that his child with Bathsheba was to die for causing her husband’s death, he prayed as hard as he could- if only God would change His mind! So, “.. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them” (2 Samuel 12:16-17).

However, still, the child died. Upon realizing, “David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate” (vv 18). They were very mistaken. For David was a man of faith. Once he had determined the child had died, “David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped..” (vv 20).

David’s reaction to a setback can be related to that of Job too who, after he lost everything, once news had been relayed to him, rather than sink into a depression, he “got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1: 20-21).

When in our walk with Christ, we do encounter setbacks, for they will always be there; may we not let that feeling of loss linger to overwhelm us into depression. As we find later both King David and the rancher Job would later be blessed mightily. They lived to enjoy those blessings because they had the right attitude, an unwavering trust and faith in God.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, in all setbacks of whatever nature I face, to you I turn and give praise, for you remain God, and in trusting you I know the better days are ahead, this I pray in Jesus’ name!