From Setbacks to Comebacks

Although I still avoid watching NFL games, I continue to follow the Minnesota Vikings. This past Thursday, they played against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I googled the score after a Facebook friend commented that the Vikings looked the best they had all year. At that point, they were ahead 29-0 during the third quarter. Later before going to sleep, I checked on the final score. The Vikings held off a Steeler rally and won 36-28. Had they lost, it would’ve set an NFL record for the largest regular-season comeback (the Buffalo Bills once overcame a 32-point deficit in a playoff game). It reminded me of a saying attributed to Yogi Berra (though he didn’t utter these exact words): “It ain’t over till it’s over.” 


The Bible mentions individuals who found themselves in difficult situations but didn’t give up and came back victorious…

  • Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Despite being a faithful servant, his master’s wife accused him of raping her and was put into prison. Joseph didn’t lose hope and eventually became second-in-command of Egypt. Joseph may have been in prison, but the prison didn’t get into Joseph.
  • Moses went into exile for 40 years after he killed an Egyptian in a premature attempt to free the children of Israel. God still used him to lead them out of captivity and later presented the Ten Commandments.
  • Samson was a mighty warrior who made the mistake of falling in love with Delilah, who later betrayed him to the Philistines  He was blinded and had his hair cut off. After Samson’s hair grew back, he regained his strength. Samson pulled down the pillars of a house, destroying himself and killing more of his enemies than when he was alive.
  • Job was a prosperous man whose patience was tried by undeserved misfortunes. Despite his bitter lamentations, he remained confident in the goodness of God. His captivity turned around after he prayed for his friends (Job 42:10).

In more recent times, well-known preachers made comebacks… 

  • Early in her ministry, Kathryn Kuhlman married a man who left his wife and children for her. It got Kathryn out of the will of God for several years. After leaving this man (who mostly hindered her from preaching), she went on to have large crowds attending her meetings.
  • Jim Bakker had a moral failure and was divorced by his wife Tammy while behind bars. He didn’t even want to go on television again but was led by the Lord to start a program he now hosts with his current wife Lori.

Whether your setbacks are caused by others or mistakes you’ve made, God can turns things around if you keep your eyes on Him. He wants bring you out better than you were before.


“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” - Romans 8:28

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