RISING AFTER A FALL – how to come back after a setback

Kunle Adeyinka

‘For a just man falleth …’ Pr. 24:16.

There are two classes of people in the game of destiny – the spectators and the players. Only players fall on the pitch and they are the stars spectators watch.

So as a player in the game of life, why are you afraid of falling or discouraged at a fall? The fall of a player is not the end of his life. If you don’t give up, you’ll surely win the price.

WHY MEN FALL

      Focus:  ‘But when he saw the wind … and beginning to sink …’ Mt 14:30

Jesus called Peter to walk on the water with Him; which he did until he saw the wind. Jesus was his focus (i.e destination) and as long as he maintained focus, he progressed. But when he lost focus and saw the wind, he began to sink. When you take your eyes off your goal, you start seeing the mountains.

      Fatigue: ‘Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall …’ (Isaiah 40:30). 

Many have fallen into sin because their inner man lacks the strength to resist. Spiritual stamina makes for continous progress in the race of destiny. The solution is to wait on the Lord. ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; … they shall … not be weary and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

      Pride: ‘… Lest being lifted up with pride, he falls …’ (1Tim 3:6). 

Pride is taking the credit that belongs to God. When Satan was lifted up and wanted to take God’s place, he fell from grace to grass. Give God all the glory due Him.

Be smart enough to rise up again after a fall and keep moving. It takes a go back to counter a setback. Success answers to successive attempts and only those who do it again receive the gain. 

Friends, life will always present a scratch card with prints of ‘NO’ at the first attempt. But when you consistently scratch the ‘NO’, you’ll see the irrevocable ‘YES’ print of God. Don’t give up; those who give up never go up. If you don’t give up, God will show up. 

When the first Adam failed/fell, God didn’t give up. He (the Most High) tried again by sending the second Adam – Jesus Christ. If God was not ashamed of repeating, then why should you? If you don’t repeatedly scratch away the ‘NO’ by a well programmed comeback, you may never get a sister to marry you, pass that course, overcome that sin, or make any meaningful success in life. Please, don’t give up.

HOW TO COME BACK

      1.

Devise a new program, strategy or plan for success. (Pr 16:9)

2. 

      Commit your new program to God in prayer. (Pr 16:3). God is committed only to that which you commit unto Him.

      3. 

      Accept the place of men because if you live alone you die alone. Don’t disregard people.  ‘Two are better than one because, they have a good report for their labour, for if he falls, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up’ (Eccl 4:9-10).

4. 

Remember not the former things and look unto the new things ahead (Is 43:18, 19; 42:9). A motorist who keeps looking back will end up crashing.

      5. 

      Finally, stay connected to Jesus because apart from Him, you can do nothing (Jn 15:5). 

      If you’ve gone too far from Him, He is still where you left Him; return to Him now. ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon’ (Is 55:7).

Your fall is not equal to your call and failure is not a crime but a price to success. See you at the top!


Culled from XPRESSIONZ magazine maiden edition (June 2006)