“Sometimes small setbacks are just blessings in disguise. They enhance your determination and whole-hearted dedication to achieving your goals.” -Robert Cheeke
Have you ever been disappointed by something you envisioned that didn’t go as planned? Maybe you’ve spent months and years working hard to see a goal accomplished and all of a sudden you were hit with a curve ball. What if the set back you experience was really a set up for something greater?
Although setbacks can be disappointing in the moment the lessons we can learn through our experience can position us for greater growth if we allow it too. When we face a setback we have two options either we can position ourselves to learn from it or we can sit around and allow disappointment and the feeling of defeat to win. Think about a setback you’ve experience in the past, when you look back how did it grow you? Did it set you up for something greater?
“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” ―
One thing I realized is that we may have our plans all mapped out but in the end Gods plan will always prevail and His plan is always greater than ours. My recent experience with a setback had me in tears. I was so excited that I recently got a job offer and it was everything that I wanted. The pay was great and I would have the opportunity to work with kids, which I love. I am a person of action so I was quick to get all my information submitted and study all the paper work and prepare to get my extra certifications and more. Than all of a sudden out of no where I begin to experience curve balls, one from the doctor that would complete change my whole schedule and take an emotional toll on me another from the job that I had get my information cleared at the DMV which created a different stress.
Two set backs in one day literally had me in tears, I felt like I was making so much progress and was so hopeful that great things would go great as I embark on this new career journey than this setback happen. Now as I look back I realize that the set back I experienced was really God setting me up for something greater.
“A setback is never a bad experience, just another one of life’s lessons.”-Richard Branson
So what did this set back really teach me?
1.) It taught me that I needed to change my perspective
One of the first things this set back taught me was that I needed to change my perspective of the situation. I needed to see this set back as an opportunity for me to grow and get better. It helped me to be more determined and it motivated me to keep going and push harder to see my goal accomplish. It help me also to realize my need to take responsibility and get a greater handle on making sure my information is updated. It also helped me to realize that I can’t be passive getting important information taken care of. I’ve learned the importance of balance and flexibility when it comes to my schedule.
2.) It taught me to take greater action
When a situation looks hopeless i’ve learned that taking action is the quickest way to help turn things around. I developed a refusal to stay stuck where I don’t want to be. This situation taught me that I needed to take action. I needed to figure out how I was going to rearrange my schedule and take time to get alone and really come to terms with my emotions and how I was feeling through all of this.
3.) It taught me that I was in control of determining my outcome
This taught me that I was in control of my outcome. The actions I take and the way I was thinking determines how I grow through this. I decided that I would not allow this setback to discourage or defeat me. I used this set back to get things in order and to prepare me to be ready when everything turns back around.
What if this setback really protected me? What if it helped me to see things differently? One of things things that comes to mind as I look back is “What if I would have started the job and couldn’t get off to attend all the appointments I needed to attend? Or “What if I would have gotten pull over? How much more money would I have had to sacrifice to get all my information taking care of?
What may look like a set back may really be Gods way of preparing you for something greater. Its ok to feel disappointed or discouraged in the moment but don’t allow yourself to stay there. Be determined to grow and get better and learn the lesson that life is trying to teach you. Life is filled with ups and down but be determined to not allow your circumstances to defeat you. Think about all that you have experience in the past and how you have overcome. If you were able to overcome in the past than you have the strength to overcome any obstacle of the future. Allow the set backs you experience to be stepping stones for greater growth.
Through my set back I was able to change my schedule, get all my information up to date and now I am finally able to continue through with the hiring process. This is definitely not the steps that I planned out in my mind but I learned a lot and was able to get better through it all.
Thank for reading!
“Your setback is just a setup for your comeback.”-Steve Harvey
Intentional Hope 