I recently heard a phrase a minister friend of mine used to say all the time. He even wrote it in a book so I wouldn’t forget it.
We usually get into this kind of a conversation because I’m confused about something and seek his biblical awareness. He constantly tells me to remember that a “setback is more often than not a setup for a comeback.” He says God presents you with what you think are setbacks, so He can set you up for a spiritual comeback.
For those of us who profess a faith based upon the life, death and eternal life of Jesus Christ, even in the most dire of circumstances, God is ever present. It’s a useful key to our salvation, if we’ll only use it. When we are surprised, or tricked, or easily enticed back into our own ways of handling this physical world and we fail miserably, it can be tough to acknowledge our failure as so-called followers of Christ. The result can make us shy away from what Christ has promised us.
Do you remember what would happen to you if you got caught doing something as a child you had no business doing? You knew what would happen if Mama, Big Mama or Madear found out about it. If the truth be told, we also knew how much it would hurt them. They had imprinted us with a moral compass that gave us character and pointed us in the right direction when everyone else was going the wrong way.
The “I’m sorry” that was due them was also sincere and understood, as such, for ourselves. We knew that we knew we were wrong even at a young age. We knew better, and it hurt to admit that to those who loved us and to ourselves.
For the Christian who makes the sincere effort and still falls short, the reality can be overwhelming and therefore seem impossible to do. You’ve still got to admit to God and yourself that you screwed up. What you did was wrong. Say “I’m sorry” and realize, as you did with Big Mama, that she still loved you no matter how disappointed she was in you.
God too, also knows that He has made a difference in your character. We are taught through Christ that His imprint on our souls is indelible and His forgiveness is eternal. But that does not exempt you from standing up and doing the “I’m sorry thing.” It’s a spiritual must.
The Bible says, “They refused to listen and fail to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff necked and in their rebellion appoint a leader in order to return to slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to answer and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them…even when they committed awful blasphemies.” Nehemiah 9:17.
Just like those who loved you, God never deserts you. Just like them, He never gives up on you. When we understand this, then we know through it all, there’s only one place to take your sins, even the ones we committed yesterday or this morning, even the ones we want to hide from. Coming to Him with this only validates who He is and who we are to Him. It’s an eternal love thing.
