22 Dec From Here (How to turn your setback into a comeback) part 4
Over the past few weeks we have been in a series called “From Here” (How to turn your setback into a comeback). The Bible tells us a very simple but profound truth, “Rejoice evermore” (I Thes. 5:16). The Greek word “evermore” means “from this point on”. In every day language, this powerful verse tells us to live our lives from here! I have decided a long time ago I’m not going to get bitter…I’m going to get better. This negative situation is not going to be a tombstone, but a stepping stone. I’m going to turn this setback into a comeback. I’m going to live my life from here!
We began to share with you “13 Facets to Live a Constructive Life…From Here”:
- Part from Pity (Phil. 2:14).
- Never let your tragedy become your identity (Mark 5:26)
Last time we began with “Three Tragedy Truths”:
- You’ll never fully live if your life revolves around death.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 126:6, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Many people after experiencing some sort of death or tragedy, encounter people who do not know how to respond. There is a phrase in the aforementioned verse that truly gives us a great Biblical balance. “…he that goeth forth weeping…”. There is certainly nothing wrong with crying after a tragedy (see Romans 12:15). However the key is going forth! Any sadness that keeps you from “going forth” in life is an unhealthy emotion and must be resisted.
This week we continue with…
2. Tragedy is an event, not a lifetime. Divorce, for example, is a tragic death of a marriage. However, it is simply an event, not a lifetime. While God hates divorce, God loves divorcees!
3. One thing survivors and winners have in common…they don’t wallow in the “why me” syndrome.
We had another married couple in the church who moved to Florida. There in Florida the wife was diagnosed with cancer. During her treatment her husband promptly left her in the most difficult time of her entire life. After the divorce, she moved back to Mt. Juliet to be once again with her favorite church. She has now been back for a few years and I have watched this woman become one of the greatest overcomers I have ever met! She refused to wallow in the “why me” syndrome and decided to live her life from here!
We all have “woulda, shoulda, coulda’s” and if “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts…we’d all have a merry Christmas! We can’t live our lives from “woulda, shoulda, coulda, if or but”…we must live our lives from here. You can’t live a constructive life from there. Isn’t it time you turned your setback into a comeback?!