Setbacks And Comebacks

Devotional

Day 1: God meets discouraged servants in quietness

When discouragement drives a person into isolation and self-pity, God still pursues them not with spectacle but with gentle correction, sustenance, and a voice that restores purpose; the pathway back from despair often begins with being asked, "What are you doing here?" and then being sent back into service with renewed vision and assignments that show God is not finished with the called. [29:21]

1 Kings 19:1-18 (ESV)
1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and he left his servant there.
3 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
4 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
5 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.
6 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
7 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
8 And he came there to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
9 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
10 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
11 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
12 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
13 He said, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
14 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.
15 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall be killed by the sword of Jehu, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall be killed by the sword of Elisha.
16 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
17 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.
18 And he left him and went away from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he cast his cloak upon him and went on his way back.

Reflection: When discouragement tempts you to hide or to quit, who can you ask to come alongside you this week so they can help you hear God’s still, small voice and remind you of your calling?

Day 2: God can turn evil into greater good

When life is robbed by betrayal, rejection, or injustice, God’s providence can weave those painful episodes into a larger story that preserves others and fulfills His purposes; instead of staying stuck in bitterness, one can choose to see how God might be using the very thing meant for harm to prepare a comeback that blesses many. [40:37]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Reflection: Identify one painful setback you still carry—what is one compassionate, tangible step you can take this week to stop rehearsing hurt and instead ask God to show how He might be forming good from it?

Day 3: Resilience: rise one more time than fall

A resilient spirit refuses to stay down after being knocked down; it refuses self-pity and blaming, makes the necessary adjustments, learns from the setback, and gets up one more time than it falls so that perseverance turns repeated falls into ultimate progress and comeback. [06:57]

Proverbs 24:16 (ESV)
For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

Reflection: What is one concrete habit (prayer time, accountability call, counseling appointment, or practical adjustment) you will commit to today that helps you get up and move forward the next time you fall?

Day 4: Trials produce perseverance and spiritual maturity

When trials are embraced with the right attitude they test faith, produce perseverance, and finish character so a person comes out more mature, complete, and lacking in nothing; viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth flips discouragement into trust and equips one for future responsibility. [12:14]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: Choose one recent trial—what is one specific lesson or skill God might be developing in you through it, and what is one immediate, practical way you will cooperate with that work today?

Day 5: Trust God — He works all things together

Believers can be confident that God is working in every circumstance—including setbacks—to bring about good according to His purpose; when focus is moved off self and back onto God, faith opens the door for God to turn delays and disappointments into comebacks. [31:38]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: What one small act of faith (a prayer of surrender, a step toward reconciliation, a generous gift, or a service you can offer) will you do today to declare you trust God is at work in this setback?

Sermon Summary

Setbacks are universal, but comebacks are not automatic. Progress in marriage, family, or any part of life will be opposed, and how we respond in those moments determines our future. A setback simply means our progress has been delayed or challenged—not that God has abandoned us or that we lack what it takes. The call is to get up one more time than we fall and keep moving. Scripture calls righteous people “fallers,” not because they live poorly, but because life hits hard; what distinguishes them is that they rise again. That is resilience—the capacity to adapt, recover, and keep going because God is present, faithful, and working.

Resilience grows through trials. James says testing produces perseverance so that we become mature and lack nothing. Setbacks often expose what needs strengthening; if we face them with faith, God uses them to form what we lacked. I’ve known that personally—weather shutting down our brand-new church plant, a painful church split, and walking with my son through a mental health crisis. We didn’t quit. We adjusted, forgave quickly, refused to blame, and kept going—again and again. Comebacks followed.

One great danger in a setback is turning inward—focusing on our pain, our frustration, and isolating from people. Elijah did this after a spectacular victory. Fear magnified his problem; isolation distorted his perspective; despair shrank his purpose. God met him not in dramatic signs but in a gentle whisper, asking, “What are you doing here?” Then God sent him back with clarity: anoint kings, raise a successor, remember the faithful remnant. Perspective and purpose broke the spell of discouragement.

Finally, we don’t just hope God can bring good from setbacks—we know it. Romans 8:28 isn’t a cliché; it’s a conviction. God weaves even the painful things for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purpose. Joseph’s long road—betrayal, slavery, false accusation, prison—was not detours; it was training. What others meant for evil, God meant for good. That truth can shape how we behave in our setbacks: faithful, patient, excellent, forgiving, and ready for the comeback God is crafting.

Key Takeaways

1. Build a resilient, get-up-again spirit. Resilience isn’t personality; it’s practiced faith. Decide in advance that falling won’t be final, and rehearse getting up with humility, repentance if needed, and renewed obedience. Resilience grows when we refuse self-pity and make the next right choice, trusting God to meet us there. [10:58]
2. Refuse self-focus; reject isolating despair. Setbacks invite tunnel vision—our pain looks final and huge. Bring your whole self into the light with God and trusted people; isolation distorts reality and drains hope. Purpose clarifies in community, and courage returns when we serve beyond ourselves. [24:16]
3. Trust God working good in setbacks. Belief becomes ballast when we know—deep down—that God is weaving good in all things. This changes our posture from panic to participation: listening for wisdom, looking for growth, and laboring with excellence right where we are. Hope becomes more than emotion; it becomes orientation. [31:38]
4. See setbacks as training for purpose. God often develops the skill set of our future in the hardship of our present. Like Joseph, we learn to lead in safe spaces and then in hostile ones, to steward little before much. When we interpret pain as preparation, we endure differently and respond more wisely. [40:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Setbacks and comebacks defined
[02:24] - How not to respond
[06:09] - Develop a resilient spirit
[11:36] - Trials that grow perseverance
[13:39] - Get up one more time
[14:00] - Early church setbacks
[16:45] - Family crisis and priorities
[19:28] - Refuse self-focus in setbacks
[22:38] - Elijah’s fear after victory
[28:25] - God’s still small voice
[29:21] - Purpose restored and next steps
[31:19] - God works all things for good
[33:57] - Joseph: setbacks to sovereignty
[41:56] - Hope for every marriage

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Proverbs 24:16
- “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”
- James 1:2–4
- “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
- Romans 8:28
- “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Observation questions (3–4)

What does Proverbs 24:16 say about the honest experience of righteous people falling and rising? How did the pastor explain “falling seven times” in the sermon? [06:09]
According to James 1:2–4, what is the intended outcome of trials, and how did the pastor connect that to setbacks being training opportunities? [11:36]
When the pastor quoted Romans 8:28, what confidence did he say believers should hold about setbacks? How does he distinguish “knowing” from merely “saying” the verse? [31:19]
In the Elijah account the pastor used, what were the three wrong reactions Elijah showed after his victory (fear, isolation, self-pity), and how did God actually respond to him? [27:26]

Interpretation questions (3–4)
(Write in third-person, objective tone)

How does the sermon’s claim that resilience is “practiced faith” change the way a person should understand spiritual growth in the middle of a setback? [10:58]
Why did God speak to Elijah in a “still small voice” rather than by repeating dramatic signs, and what does that suggest about how God restores vision and purpose amid discouragement? [28:25]
In the sermon the Joseph story is presented as a sequence of training in different environments. What does that interpretation imply about the meaning of “bad” events that seem to derail God’s promises? [36:19]
The pastor warned about the natural pull to focus inward when hurt. What practical dangers did he identify that follow self-focus, and why is community presented as an antidote? [19:28]

Application questions (5–7)

Identify a current or recent setback in your marriage, family, work, or personal life. How did you respond—did you get up “one more time than you fell”? What is one concrete next step you will take this week to get up and move forward? [13:39]
When setbacks arrive do you tend to withdraw or isolate (skip church, avoid friends, stay silent)? Name one trusted person you will call, text, or invite this week instead of withdrawing. What will you say to invite their help? [24:16]
The sermon described resilience as a choice (rehearsing getting up, refusing self-pity). Pick one small, specific action (a short prayer, a timely apology, resetting a routine, one hour of Bible reading) you will commit to for the next seven days to practice resilience. When will you do it? [10:58]
Think of a painful or confusing season you’ve already come through. How can you retell that story to someone now as evidence that God can turn setbacks into preparation—what details will you emphasize to make it encouraging and honest? [33:57]
Which behavior does the sermon call you to adopt in your setback: faithful persistence, patient endurance, excellent work, or quick forgiveness? Pick one and name a concrete way you will live that out this week (who you will forgive, what task you will do with excellence, what you will persist at). [31:19]
Are there people you have blamed or ways you’ve stayed stuck in self-pity during a setback? Identify one tangible step this week to begin repairing that (a call, a written apology, meeting to confess and ask for help). Schedule when you will do it. [19:08]

(End of guide)

Sermon Clips

If you're going to experience a comeback from your setback, you're going to have to develop a resilient spirit. You're going to have to develop a resilient spirit, which you ought to have as a child of God. You really should have because of God being God, because of who God is to you, because of his promise in your life, because of his ability to work in your life, because of his ability to give you victory over whatever life brings against you. All of that should produce this air about you, this spirit of resilience that you have as a child of God. We just ought to be resilient people. [00:06:02] (39 seconds) #ResilientByFaith

When we fail, we often think, what did I do wrong? Well, the fact of the matter is you may not have done anything wrong, because sometimes you're not failing because you've done something wrong. Sometimes you're experiencing a failure in that moment. You're experiencing a setback in that moment because of what life has brought against you, because of what the enemy has brought against you. Isn't that right? And so I'd read that, you know, and so again, I just think we assume if you're righteous, everything's going to go well. But according to this verse, even righteous people fall. [00:07:03] (30 seconds) #FailureIsntAlwaysYourFault

So again, everybody falls. The righteous person experiences a lot of setbacks in life, just like anybody else does. I consider us to be righteous people. We're going to fall from time to time. But what makes him different, what makes us different, and what makes us successful is the way we respond to the setback. It says he responds by getting back up again. Amen? And that's the mark of a resilient spirit. You get back up after you fall. [00:08:38] (29 seconds) #RiseAfterYouFall

So, when I go through trials, if I face them with the right attitude, I come out of them different. I come out of them better. I come out of them better equipped. I come out of them more mature. I come out of them not lacking something that I did lack before I went into the trial. Amen? Well, that's the thing with a setback. Sometimes a setback reveals what was lacking. And so, as I endure this trial, as I'm going through this setback, and I look to God, say, God, help me approach this right. Make me better in this. Come on. Then God develops my faith. [00:12:44] (38 seconds) #TrialsMakeYouStronger

Here's the thing about falling, having a setback. It doesn't matter how many times you fall. You just have to get back up one more time than you fall. Amen? So, you may fall a lot of times in life. That's just going to happen. What matters is, is that you just get back up one more time, then you fall, and that will cause you to be successful in life. [00:13:35] (25 seconds) #GetUpOneMoreTime

Can I tell you, any time you give in to discouragement and depression, and you're just focusing on you, I promise you, I promise you, you're going to end up someplace you don't want to be. You're going to end up someplace you shouldn't be. The angel says, what are you doing here? Everybody say, what are you doing here? You know what? You might need to ask yourself that question sometimes whenever you're struggling. You might need to ask yourself, what in the world am I doing here? I serve God. God has given me promise. God has the purpose for my life. What am I doing here, right? [00:27:10] (32 seconds) #ChoosePurposeNotDespair

He's saying, Elijah, you've given place to discouragement and despair here, and it's blown everything out of perspective in your life. I am by no means through with you. You still have purpose, and you still have destiny to fulfill. There's kings that need to be anointed. There's a mantle that needs to be laid on Elisha so that he can be raised up to take your place when you're gone. Are you hearing me? You need to get your vision back. You need to get your purpose back as far as what I've called you to do. Come on, and rise up out of this. [00:30:10] (31 seconds) #RiseUpFulfillYourPurpose

``Be confident that God is working in the setback for your good. There's a verse in the New Testament. We quote a lot. We even sing it a lot. And we act like we believe it, but I don't know if we do. I know this. While we may say we believe it, I don't think we know it. And those are very different things. [00:31:13] (24 seconds) #TrustGodInSetbacks

Could you just believe with me and believe in me and know that I'm at work in the middle of this? Whether it looks like it does right now, like I'm working right now or not. Could you just trust that I'm working for your good in this? And I'm going to turn this around for you in your life. Amen. Can I tell you, it's amazing how when you do finally stop feeling sorry for yourself, get your focus off you, your problems, yourself, your feelings, get your focus back on him and, yeah, God, let's go. It's amazing how quickly things can begin to turn around and God bring about good. [00:33:16] (40 seconds) #StopSelfPityTrustGod

You and I have got to get to the point where we realize that no matter what we go through in life, God is present with us, and God is at work in our life and our circumstances. And even though an evil has happened to us, setback has occurred, come on. God is going to work about a good and turn it around, and we'll have a comeback. And out of that, good things will be realized in our life. Amen? Further down in the road in our marriage and family, stronger than it's ever been. Again, our finances, if that's the area, whatever it is, God will be at work turning it around for our good. But we've got to trust Him. [00:41:00] (41 seconds) #GodTurnsSetbacksIntoComebacks

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What marks a resilient spirit during setbacks?

Why avoid self-focus during painful setbacks?

How does God work for good in setbacks?