God is a God of Comebacks. I know this to be true. You see, when I first wrote this post back in 2016, I really wondered if I could stage a comeback, or if I was done for. I was down and out, feeling very much a failure. Emotionally spent and clinging to hope, I asked myself “What the hell happened to you, Chad?”
Thankfully, God is a God of comebacks!
Your life is going to go through many varied seasons. Some are unbelievably awesome–appreciate those and make every effort to prolong good waves as long as you can. They can be rare, so take the blessing and know you are blessed.
And then there are those seasons of life that are trying, difficult, and brutal. They might even sneak up on you even though, in later hindsight, you can re-trace every mis-step that got you into that bitter funk. The key is to not let that bitter funk overtake you and dominate your life. The key is to remember all seasons–good and bad–are temporary.
In every down season, there is opportunity for a comeback.
In life, you will be challenged to make comebacks. It’s important to know there are purposes to down seasons and that you are never too far lost, or too far gone.
You Will Have to Make Comebacks
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. – Romans 3:23 NLT
I had reached a low point in career, family and personal courage. I battled with the possibility that I was not good enough, that I somehow exceeded a personal ceiling. And I was in the midst of crashing back through that ceiling on the way down into the pit of despair. In this season, I questioned every move many times over. I did it so often, I would refuse move at all. That was worse than making the wrong move.
I later learned about something called the impostor syndrome… a secret belief that you are in over your head and yet you’re fooling others into thinking you’re in control. All the while, you fear you’re going to be found out.
Here’s the good news: we’re all impostors, so there is nothing to be found out. We all fall short. And because of our human shortcomings, we’re going to have times when comebacks from failure and defeat are required of us. In fact, I’ve been knocked down and gotten back up many more times since originally writing this post. And given that it’s among the most read at 1Glories, I am sure I am not alone.
God is the Strength for Your Comebacks
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights. – Habakkuk 3:19
I often eat lunch in my car, seated in the passenger seat. I do this for some practical reasons. First, it’s more shaded from the sun, so it’s more comfortable on hot days. And secondly, it’s roomier. There is also a third reason I sit there instead of the driver’s seat, that is more symbolic.
I like to remind myself who the real driver of my life is, and that is my God. We have to remember that God is with us and he IS OUR STRENGTH. When we find ourselves having to come back, he equips and empowers us to go forward in bold confidence.
Don’t Give Up on Your Comebacks
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. – Galatians 6:9
A lot of people fall down and don’t want to get up. Many of them do not. Many of them grow tired of falling down, and they choose to stay down. DON’T GIVE UP. You comebacks are challenging, yes. They are also rewarding and necessary for your personal shaping and growth into who and where God wants you to be. Run the race to win.
Comebacks Need Timing and Wisdom
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. – James 1:19
All seasons of life have their own set of timing. Some are longer than others. Some are swift and some are sporadic. What’s most important, though, is that you learn and grow from them all. Pray to God. Seek his voice and his reasoning. He will grant you a heart of wisdom to go with his strength. Timed right and done with genuine love for your God and your neighbor, your comebacks are without question.
Comebacks Are Not About or Maybe Even for You
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25
The brutal season I described earlier changed me. I detail many of the experiences in my book, Listen Up, Kids: Foolish Dreams, Syncing with God & Running to Win. One of the most lasting things I learned is what it means to be fully trusting of God and His timing. I also learned that God loves us more than we can ever know or comprehend. He reminds me of this through every season I’ve since experienced.
I went to battle with God, and I sparred with him like a boy wrestling with his dad in the family room. It left me exhausted, with a long-lasting taste of salt in my mouth, and the most comforting spiritual embrace I have ever felt.
I crashed into God. It had to be done before I could ever come back.
I think that is what he wanted. And I am better today because of it.
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