Dealing with setbacks

In life there are constant setbacks, setbacks knows not skin color, social or economic, setbacks are genderless and apply to all people. Some setbacks are really just “first world problems” but in the end a setback is a setback. Former Navy Seal Jocko Wilinik calls setbacks…

“Good”

Why? Because a setback is really just a momentary thing, it’s good because from a setback you can move forward, when we take a step backwards instead of forwards it can mean that we possibly lacked discipline and again according to Wilinik:

“Discipline equals freedom”

Now as a pastor I have a heard time listening to people who ascribe like Wilinik and Senator Dan Crenshaw who ascribe the whole, “master of your own fate” rhetoric, from this humanistic view point, I should be able to basically “will” myself into a better situation, or away from a negative situation. Human history has taught us all that “situations” like setbacks are
not specific to a single person, but happen to all of us, in various ways…
But taking Jocko’s phrase and putting it under a biblical microscope we can gain a better understanding of what “freedom” is. For Christians we understand that “real” freedom isn’t that which personally holds you and I back, rather we see freedom, is to be without being a slave, but then the question must be asked, free from what and a slave to what? The answer is
remarkably simple:

Sin is our slave master

Our freedom isn’t from some physical oppressor, but rather a metaphysical or spiritual oppressor, but this isn’t to say that there is a spiritual oppressor who is a causation element, somehow making you sin, rather the half-brother of Jesus Christ points our clearly;

“ 12 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO REMAINS STEADFAST UNDER TRIAL, FOR WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. 13 LET NO ONE SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, “I AM BEING TEMPTED BY GOD,” FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, AND HE HIMSELF TEMPTS NO ONE.      14 BUT EACH PERSON IS TEMPTED WHEN HE IS LURED AND ENTICED BY HIS OWN DESIRE. 15 THEN DESIRE WHEN IT HAS CONCEIVED GIVES BIRTH TO SIN, AND SIN WHEN IT IS FULLY GROWN BRINGS FORTH DEATH.” – JAMES 1:12 – 15 ESV

Sin or temptation to sin actually derives from within, it comes from the “evil desires” of our heart, and not from an outside oppressor, hence I agree with Jocko, discipline is a “me” problem…

But still I am frustrated when I sin, when I choose to allow my emotions to get the best of me, I get angry or frustrated and then because of a lack of discipline I get emotional… God has given us an escape from our sinful emotion, the Apostle Paul tells us so in his first letter to the believers in Corinth…

“ 13 NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU THAT IS NOT COMMON TO MAN. GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND YOUR ABILITY, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ENDURE IT.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 ESV

So when we are frustrated at the plight of our lives, the situations that befall us, the sins that are tempting, when we are fighting against that “old self” we should remember that in every temptation, God has given us an escape, I believe that the escape is only through the power of
the Holy Spirit who has been given to us as believers, a “helpmate” a “guide” and a “counselor” to see us through difficulties and temptations, discipline is our part of the process… the lack of discipline is once again a “me problem”

Jesus Christ put a great perspective on how we ought to live our lives in the service of the King…

“Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be
added unto you.”

This isn’t a promise that you will be rich or healthy, or important in a worldly perspective, rather that our focus our discipline will be where it should be, that we should be focused on the Kingdom, and not on ourselves.

I wish I could tell you I am one hardened disciplined soldier of God, but I lack, maybe I will always lack, I certainly lacked today, I got frustrated, waylaid but this world and culture around me, I sinned because I got emotional about it, I showed a lack of discipline and became angry, frustrated and discontented with my plight. And you know what:

That’s Good

Good, because I am still standing, God hasn’t chosen to take me home yet. Good because grace and mercy still abounds and I can focus on Christ who is seated at the right hand of God, focus on putting to death things in my life that were crucified with Christ, and focus then on putting on things that Christ would have me wear.

My hope and prayer, for you the reader, borrow Jocko Wilinik’s phrase, remember that God is at work in you, that we are prone to faulty thinking, allowing “hubris” or wrong thinking, which leads to us becoming emotional, which leads us to becoming angry or frustrated, But most importantly, remember that you were bought with a price, and
thanks be to God who gives us the escape for every temptation. So when temptation arises to become emotional or frustrated and angry, work to become disciplined to focus on the right hand of God, working to become more like Him every day, not through religion or works, but because you have been saved, and outflowing from this salvation is freedom.