2 Samuel 8:1(KJV)
And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
From our anchored Scripture, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. After God had told David not to build the Temple for Him, David and his armies systematically conquered one enemy after another until they had subdued all of the surrounding nations. After the setback, David diligently and aggressively carried out duties according to God’s high calling, not according to personal preference of desiring to build the Temple for the Lord. The right attitude turned David’s setbacks into triumphs as he enjoyed victories everywhere and made a name for himself. He puts garrisons in strategic areas to maintain power and reigns securely over all of Israel. This string of victories would ordinarily provoke a king to consider himself “self-made,” but David continued to serve and obey God.
Adversity or setback can happen to anyone regardless of age and status. It often takes a few setbacks and detours in the Christian life before we begin to catch on and learn to trust God for a positive outcome. However, what we make from it (failure or success) is up to us. We can turn setbacks into a springboard for miracles, victories, and testimonies. It does not matter what we are encountering right now; our end is glorious and victorious. Satan will sometimes employ setbacks to manipulate our perception of God, but we must recognize this ploy and choose to overcome our struggles instead of letting them control us. Trust in God’s steadfast love and guidance, and believe in His plan for us. Setbacks should not define us; we must rise above them with determination and conviction. Our destiny is glorious regardless of our encounters, where we are now, or the difficulties we pass through. When God closes one door in our lives, He will surely open another to take us to the next level. We are only defeated when we accept setbacks. In our worst moments, when life seems pointed in the opposite direction of God’s plan, we must learn to trust the Lord. In God’s time, He will move us forward for His purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Beloved, there is a divine commitment towards you and God’s specific plan for your life. Your life is not over because you had a setback. God has an “after this” in your future. He has another victory planned. He wants to take you further than you ever dreamed possible! When you go through tough times, don’t be surprised if the enemy is happy and dancing but know that the setback is not the end of you. Don’t dwell on it; let that go in one ear and out the other. God is saying to you, “After the bad break, disappointment, or pain, there is still a full life.” You are about to strike and subdue that enemy, difficulty, hardship, or temptation that has been tormenting you for some time now. God will preserve your going out and your coming in. He will preserve your soul from destruction. You should be after God’s own heart in all things. Know today that you have not danced your best dance, have not laughed your best laugh, or have yet to dream your best dream. If you stay in faith and do not get bitter, God has an “after this” in your future. He’s not only going to bring you out; He is going to bring you out better than you were before, more blessed than before, wiser than before, more prosperous than before, and more victorious than before! Your failure is not final or fatal. Let God use your failure as fuel for your future. Remember, God is masterminding, blueprinting, and organizing your comeback!
O Lord, thank You for everything. Today, change my setback into a comeback in Jesus’ Name.