When I start writing, my mind goes to the audience I hope will find it interesting and useful. In writing a series of articles about setbacks, I am convinced that my audience is everyone. Everyone who has ever tried to do anything for God knows plenty about setbacks!
As we consider well-known biblical characters, we soon discover that we are not alone! I hope you take encouragement from the fact that those we look up to, including, and in particular, the Lord Jesus Christ, experienced many setbacks.
Remarkably, Scripture says of the Lord Jesus, “He shall not fail nor be discouraged” (Isaiah 42:4 KJV). I hope these articles will help us have fewer failures because of setbacks and, despite their inherently discouraging nature, give encouragement and reinvigoration in knowing that, biblically, they can become a blessing.
The title is intentionally “Successful Setbacks”, in recognition of the principle of Proverbs 24:16: “for the righteous falls seven times and rises again” (ESV). In God’s wisdom, setbacks are part of His great design to remind us of our dependence on Him and our need for prayer, and to help our humility.
This first article is about successful setbacks in service – where the initial enthusiasm can quickly dampen into half-heartedness when, inevitably, disappointments are experienced. There is a risk of waning enthusiasm developing into indifference or even bitterness in the work of God when initial hopes are not realised. The cross seemed a confusing and devastating blow to those who had been following and serving the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:21). But the resurrection changed everything, and Paul’s practical application from his great teaching on that subject is a poignant reminder to keep going in our service: “Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NET).
Here are four areas where the Scriptures remind us that setbacks can be “successful”.
Places:
For many Christians, the gospel coming to their part of the world was associated with a setback. Philip was “successfully” preaching in Samaria (Acts 8) when God told him to leave and go into a desert. That must have seemed very strange and, as far as we know, the outcome was just one person’s conversion. Yet that one person’s conversion led to the gospel entering, possibly for the first time, the great continent of Africa, where many have since been saved. In Acts 16:7 Paul had an understandable desire to go into Bithynia but, however inexplicable it may have seemed at the time, the Holy Spirit said, “No”. Instead, he was led to Macedonia, to a demon-possessed girl, imprisonment and an earthquake at Philippi, and so, notwithstanding these setbacks, the gospel came to Europe, and what blessings have followed! Missionary biographies are replete with examples of much work being done for God in a different place to the one originally anticipated!
Persecution:
Opposition brings a toughness that hurts, particularly at the individual level. Injustice, false accusation, malicious treatment, and material loss give no human incentive to continue with the Lord’s work. In its severest form, namely martyrdom, persecution might appear to be the ultimate setback. But, as Acts 7 deliberately demonstrates with Stephen, the first martyr, God is so often using the persecution for His purposes. Saul was watching, and consenting to, the events (Acts 8:1; 22:20), but within a short period of time he was converted and became the most remarkably well-used servant of God. So, often, and in a way that demonstrates the sovereign greatness of God, the church has grown through persecution. This is consistent with the word “scattered” that is used of persecuted Christians in 1 Peter 1:1 (KJV) and comes from the idea of sowing seed – from an unlikely action can come a large harvest. Ultimately, even if earthly blessing does not seem to come from enduring opposition, the biblical promise that “If we suffer [with Him], we shall also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2:12 KJV), means the success of the setback is guaranteed.
Personal circumstances:
Age (whether we are young, middle-aged or older) may, in different ways, appear to put some restriction on how we are able to serve the Lord. Likewise, past activities, perhaps especially before salvation, may put an apparently frustrating restriction on future service. When David was given the disappointing news that he was not to be the builder of the temple (2 Samuel 7), he neither questioned whether he was wrong to have the desire (that would have been incorrect), nor rebelled against the divine prerogative (which would have been foolish). If God closes one door, He is not closing every door (Revelation 3:7) – instead, it is to ensure that we are free to do the work He wants us to do at a specific time. God’s “nos” are because of what He knows. He will direct to what is best, and use those who are willing to simply follow His direction.
Perplexities:
There are things that, at the time, we just do not understand – the discouragement or ineptitude of fellow believers, the apparent lack of finance, results not being what we envisaged, the closure of an assembly or work. Yet it is crucial to remember that what we are involved in is God’s work. These situations where we cannot see the full picture are not a binding hindrance to the One who said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) and for whom the cross of shame and death was, from a human standpoint, the culmination of His earthly work. How different the eternal perspective will be!
It is a paradox that few of the local churches from the New Testament exist today, yet the church has grown worldwide. To give a personal example: for nearly twenty years my wife and I have had the privilege of speaking to hundreds of young people in schools. These opportunities arose, following prayer, prompted by the closing of the local Sunday School and Children’s meeting.
God uses “weak things . . . to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV) and any circumstance where difficulty makes it obvious that God’s power alone is sufficient – and He therefore gets the glory – is a successful setback (2 Corinthians 4:7).
