The comeback
While working out at the Aerobics Center this past week, I noticed a young girl working with her trainer. I was intrigued by the message on the back of her T-shirt. It said: ‘The comeback is always better than the setback’. Wow, that preaches! All of us have experienced trials and setbacks in our lives. I know I have.
Do we truly believe that everything in our lives can be used by God for our good and his glory, even setbacks of any nature? What a promise in this verse from Peter. Notice that God himself will handle your comeback. By restoring you, but more than that… making you strong, firm and steadfast! If we each could view our setbacks with this mindset, we would rejoice with Paul.
Sufficient grace
As recorded in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul had entreated God to take the thorn out of his flesh, whatever that was. He heard God say, Paul, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. What did Paul do, pout? No, he said he would boast, actually, delight in his weaknesses. Why? So that Christ’s power would rest on him. He understood that when he was weak, then he was really strong, through Christ. It is obvious that Paul had come to understand that ‘the comeback is always better than the setback’.
How about us? Do we trust God to fulfill his promises as set out here? If so, I believe we would look at our setbacks with anticipation of what God is going to do. We become stronger moving forward, and God is glorified. Everyone loves comebacks!