Setbacks Don’t Have to Take You Down by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

My husband and I visited our son, daughter-in-law and new grandchild, William, over Easter weekend and decided to take a walk around their neighborhood. There’s a pond in their development, but in order to get to the walking path around it, we had to cross a field. That seemed simple enough, but halfway to the pond I found myself on the ground, writhing in pain. My foot apparently got caught in a hole, cleverly disguised with a grass covering. As a result, I badly injured my foot.

At first I thought my foot was broken because it hurt so bad, but I was able to stand and walk back to the house—slowly.

Three days later, it is bruised and still swollen and I leave tomorrow for a speaking engagement in Atlanta.

How should I handle this?

Should I complain to God?

Should I cry because I am injured going into a speaking event?

Or should I be grateful that I have the ability to still walk?

I have chosen the latter. I know “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Setbacks are a part of life and we can choose to trust God in the midst of them or feel sorry for ourselves. Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

Looking back on Easter, Jesus suffered far worse than a sprained ankle on my behalf.

So if you are dealing with any kind of setback, you have a choice to move forward in God’s strength or to allow it to shut you down. God’s strength can always see us through any trial.