Turning Around Setback

We’ve all been there – a loss, a slap down, a failure…

It is an inextricable part of being human.

 

 We Are Created in the Image of God

 I have spoken and written much about the divinity of humanity as children of God through our union with Christ. 

We are in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We look just like Jesus (1 John 4:17). We are the little “g” gods of our big “G” Father (Psalm 8:4-5, John 10:34-35).

I also have spoken and written much about the sweeping redemptive finished work of Christ and that we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). We are working a completed salvation from inside out (Philippians 2:12).

All of this is the undergirding and overarching reality that supersedes all experiences. And we never move away from this.

 Even with that foundation, we do live in a fallen world that at times can really look like hell. 

Life can broadside and leave us scratching our heads. And we’re the ones who are supposed to have the answers. 

Let’s be honest (what a concept) – sometimes we are utterly at a loss. 

It’s OK to admit that. 

 There’s a reason we all need a Savior. 

And our Savior gives us practical tools we can use in the midst of a painful setback.

 

Lessons in the Darkness

 I recently came across an anonymous quote that said:

Every pain gives a lesson and every lesson changes a person.

Lessons exist to teach and build up. 

If you look at lessons as punitive (definitely not God) or you learn a fear lesson that is not a God lesson (i.e. you can’t trust anyone), you will not live in abundance. With these ways of thinking, you will have to unlearn the bad and relearn the good.

There is gold somewhere in these lessons. Don’t waste your pain!

Use your pain.

 Asking the right questions is crucial.

A wonderful question to ask is: 

 Who does God want to be for me in the midst of this trial?

There is always a revelation of Who God is in your circumstances – intimately for you right now! 

Sit with Him and ask Him. Try journaling His response. 

You may be utterly surprised by what He reveals. 

 

 Framing Your Struggle

 Another important thing is to frame your trial rightly. Dramatizing your trouble and magnifying your affliction leads to feeling overwhelmed, or worse – self-pity. Those are killers!

 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV) says: 

 

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 

Notice Paul, who had been through heavy-duty affliction that most of us will never experience, called his affliction light and momentary. He had a secret that he elaborates on in the next verse:

 

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

It all depends upon where you are looking. 

You will magnify whatever you focus on. That is why looking at Jesus is so crucial – He imparts His faith as we look to Him (Hebrews 12:2). He is compassionate but never worried about our situations. And He always has a brilliant response.

 

Nobody Panic!

I have developed a habit – it always makes my team laugh, but it is effective.

When a crisis happens and I feel myself tempted to get upset I say out loud, “OK, nobody panic!” I’m saying it first to myself first, because when crisis happens we need a level head. And I do have a few drama kings and queens in my household! 

I remember when I was going through medical residency, we were told when a code blue crisis (cardiac arrest) happened, to take our own pulse first! That is REALLY good advice!

Also, during this time, a resident physician, two years my senior, was always amazingly level headed in a crisis. I remember the Residency Director called her “unflappable”, and I thought, “Yes – that’s the word!” I was amazed at her capacity because I was fairly “flappable” at the time. 

She modeled something. She modeled Jesus traits – patience, endurance, and self-control. And that always stuck with me. 

Dramatizing your trouble leads to feeling overwhelmed, or worse, self-pity – NEITHER are a fruit of the Spirit. This undermines our capacity to respond well. It causes us to shrink to a smaller version of ourselves. Don’t fall for it. You are a champion!

 

Temporary Trials

Going back to 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV), we see that whatever we go through is temporary.

When looking at eternity, even death is temporary!

God is able to redeem EVERY loss in the light of the eternal realm!

Think of all the things that you have gone through that you were SURE that THIS ONE was going to take you out!

But you are still here. 

You are stronger and more resilient than you know.

BUT you need to help yourself – patiently and in kindness – leaning on Jesus. 

You need to set yourself up for recovery and eventual victory. 

It’s all wrapped up in the filters you choose.

 

The filter you look through will bring either life or death.

We all need upgraded God perspectives.

This requires self-control because YOU decide what perspective you agree with. You are powerful to choose!

 

Harnessing Your Storm

 I recently came across another gem of a saying:

“Not every storm comes to disrupt your life – some come to clear your path.”

 It reminded me of the raging fires in our area that ravaged our forests in Colorado. Thousands upon thousands of acres were utterly destroyed. Many homes and a few lives were taken. People were evacuated. I remember ash raining down in our backyard. It truly felt like apocalypse – nobody panic!

 It was not without some humor. When told we needed to pack evacuation essentials, Robert, my young son (at the time), packed our car with ALL his stuffed animals. There was no room for his sisters! I guess they were supposed to trot beside the van in the evacuation.  

The aftermath was surreal. The affected neighborhoods houses were razed to their foundations. It looked like a warzone. The beautiful landscape turned black. Then the flash floods came – its own mess and chaos closing down the pass to the mountains (my daily trek) many times. 

But sure enough, with time and the inherent resiliency of creation, the landscape and people bounced back. Life and beauty are eternal and IRREPRESSIBLE!

I also understand the long term health of forests can benefit from fires. Vast areas of Colorado’s forestry have been compromised by something called the pine beetle that wipes out Colorado pines, leaving them a sickly dead rust color. The only way to stop it is with fire. Fire also clears out the underbrush so that new healthier growth can occur.

In crisis, there truly are lessons we can learn – about God, ourselves, others, and life that we would not have learned otherwise. We become wiser through these struggles!

Sometimes, indeed, storms come to clear out our paths. 

 

Gleaning from the Hard Times

I ran across an article from Charles Swindoll. I love to glean from the wisdom of others, even if we track differently with doctrine. You can learn from anyone if you stay humble, honor who they are, and open your mind. God speaks everywhere! 

“Great character, like massive roots, grow deep when water is sparse and winds are strong.” 

– Charles Swindoll

 

In his article he unpacks 5 reasons that hard times help us. The first is that when crisis hits hard we come to the end of ourselves – our capacity, our wisdom, and our strength. 

Secondly, because of this we develop reliance on God. We recognize He is the Source and we are not (John 15:5).

Thirdly, as we look to Him, faith is developed. Faith is like film in the sense that it’s best developed in the dark, because it takes little faith to walk in the light. 

Forth, it is here where God gets to be Who He says He is. He is our Champion and Christ is more than enough. When you experience this, it changes everything. 

Fifth, one of the greatest things, it changes is you – your character. You develop stamina – what my mother used to call “a spine.”

 As you grow in intimacy with God and learn to truly rely and rest in Him, you change – you are upgraded!

Then your life is not all about living from one crisis to the next.  

 

Flourishing in the Lack

Psalm 1:1-3 (TPT) says: 

1 What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!

He won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way,

nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.

2 His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”

meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.

3 He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design,

deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life.

He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.

 

In this psalm, you become sturdy and flourish because you have USED setbacks and pain to root yourself deeper in God – in Love, Himself. Because of this, you are upgraded. You flourish and manifest blessing in every season. 

This is your birthright but you must choose to grab ahold of it. 

Don’t waste your pain. Your upgrade is on the other side!

I trust this has been a blessing! Share with me how God is bringing you or has brought you through a difficult time. I’d love to hear!

 

XO,

 

Catherine