After weeks of consistently working toward a fitness goal that I was close to achieving...I fell ill and had to stop. I didn't fall off the wagon by eating too many donuts. A virus that was beyond my control was the culprit. Nevertheless, it was a frustrating SETBACK—a reversal or check in progress; a defeat. Fitness trainer, Jillian Michaels, famous for her transformative work with individuals on the TV series, "The Biggest Loser," said we have to bring meaning to our setbacks. We can learn lessons and make the most of times when we are hindered, our progress is slow, and we experience delays.
Setbacks in our fitness, financial, workplace, and relational lives happen all the time. It feels at times as if we've taken a really bad fall, and it's going to be painful to get up and recover. How we respond to these mishaps, whether caused by our character flaws or negligence, by the actions of others, or by the activity of the devil...will determine our level of success in life. Paul wrote that even good things— like his extensive visions and revelation of God's plan— could prove problematic. The prophetic insights he received from God...might make him prideful. The LORD dealt with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:
7even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul said this setback that buffeted or struck him repeatedly and violently...was really a gift from God. It was meant to keep him humble. If things were going too well, the LORD knew he would get a bad case of the big head. So God allowed Satan to give Paul a setback. We don't preach this often, but pride might explain some of the setbacks many of us face. Christ followers believe in the greatest setback—comeback combination there has ever been. After our Lord, Jesus died, and was buried; He rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven by the power of Holy Spirit. This comeback opened the way for us to have a relationship with God and become part of His family. It also frees us from the fear of our most powerful opponent—death.
The writer of Hebrews explains, 14Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. (Hebrews 2:14-15) "To have a comeback, you have to have a setback." —Mr. T No truer words have been spoken. | 
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