The Faith Place

Have you ever heard the saying a setback is just a setup for a comeback?

Everywhere I look on social media I am seeing people post their year in review. This morning as I was reflecting on my year the word setup came to mind. As I pondered that word I realized how relevant it was to what it felt like my year had been. This year has been that part in the middle of this cycle it seems where I’m not at the setback point, but I’m also not to my comeback yet.

It has been an interesting year. While it has been a rough year, I have noticed that many of the things that have happened this year seem to be a setup for my comeback. For example, I had a pretty significant setback in May when I lost my job. I searched for months and put in several applications. I really struggled to find anything. My brother in law Trevor got me a temporary job over the summer at a day camp. Little did I know that this job was a setup. When I started working at the camp I met a lady who had been a substitute teacher at a school. She told me that they were also hiring and needing substitute teachers. I put in an application and at first I didn’t hear anything from them. So, I figured it was just not going to work out. They finally called me back and I began substitute teaching in September. Even though it wasn’t a permanent job I was so happy and was glad that I was finally earning an income. But again this was just another setup. After working for about two months they pulled me into the office and offered me a full time job as a kindergarten teacher’s assistant. I was so excited! While that was a comeback financially, it was also a setup for something else too. Me and Tyler have been trying to buy a house, but that was put on hold while I was unemployed. This comeback with my job is a setup for us to be able to buy a house as well. I don’t want to bore you with all of the little things, but there have been several things like this that have happened this year. That’s why I believe it was the year of setup for me.

I think about the past several years and I can see times where I was in my comeback season. I can see times when I felt like I got the breath knocked out of me and it felt like a setback. There have been times where it felt like the devil himself was writing my story. Then I move into a season where I can’t see how the Lord is working, but little by little he starts using little things to start setting me up for my comeback.

As you reflect on your year what do you see? If you notice, this really seems to be a cycle. You go from setback to setup to comeback…setback to setup to comeback over and over again throughout this life. I know that for many this year was a struggle. I know that for many their optimism for the new year is at an all time low. But I do hope to encourage you.

Setback

If you find yourself in the setback phase of life, please remember that it’s only temporary and brighter days will come. You might be feeling deeply disheartened and weary with the way things have unfolded. You may feel like you’ve reached your limit and are on the verge of giving up. But don’t lose hope! This difficult season will eventually come to an end.

Setup

If you are in the setup season I know that this can be a difficult phase too. I think many times you sometimes can’t see or feel or understand how God is working. It’s almost like you have to get through it and look back in hindsight and then you see the handiwork of the Lord. Many times you could be in this season and not even realize it because it feels so difficult. You may think you are still in the setback. If you are feeling like you’ve had a setback then start looking closely for the ways God may be working it out for you. Just like the song Waymaker says, Even when I don’t see it you’re working, Even when I don’t feel it you’re working. Remember that God is with you! He is in the details and He is for you!

Comeback

Then there is the comeback season! This is a season of relief. This is a season of seeing the fulfillment of all you have been striving and working for. It’s the season that shows you that you aren’t crazy. Like when Noah built the Ark when it had never rained. Everybody thought he was crazy. Poor Noah may have even began to question his sanity. But when he stepped off of the Ark onto dry ground he knew that he had been obedient and he was rewarded for that obedience. I believe it is a celebration time to be thankful for all the Lord has brought you through! It may even be a time of rest because of the intensity of the battle you had to face in past seasons.

I hope that regardless of how this year unfolded for you, you will look towards the future with hope. Remember that wherever you are, God is with you and He is moving forward alongside you. There may be moments when you don’t see or feel His presence, but rest assured that He is actively working, even in the smallest aspects of your life. Embrace crazy faith in the future because of what the Bible says in Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

God just has this crazy way of working things out!

Happy New Year!