Have you experienced a setback in your life? We all know how it feels to experience disappointment, defeat and loss. All of us are challenged by situations that leave us frustrated and discouraged. If you are discontented, if you’ve made mistakes, if you’re hurting there is good news - you can have a comeback!
You may have gotten divorced, lost your job, had a health problem, experienced the loss of a loved one or had another setback. Whatever the case, you can turn your setback into a comeback. In fact, it is possible to get back to where you once were or even be better. This could be your year – the year you have a great comeback.
God is in the business of fresh starts, new beginnings and resurrected dreams. He has a comeback prepared just for you. You can experience a powerful turnaround in your life. Your present situation is not the final word on your life. No matter what the setback, you can have a comeback.
There have been numerous comebacks involving countless people throughout the years. The question is not will there be comebacks. The question is will one of those comebacks be yours?
Just as setbacks come in all shapes and sizes, so do comebacks. But there are certain principles that govern comebacks. If you are going to have a comeback, you will need to take these six steps.
Make the Change
A comeback always begins with change. Unless you change what you are presently doing or not doing, things are going to remain the same and there will be no comeback. Things have to be different. If you want to have a comeback you must be willing to make changes. You have to be open to doing things differently from how you’ve done them up to this point.
Don’t let fear, rationalization, discouragement, procrastination or laziness keep you from changing. Change happens when you receive new information or gain new knowledge. Change happens when you get a new attitude. You will see things from a new perspective. You will think differently about yourself, others and God. Change happens when you choose to be committed to your comeback. You must believe in your comeback and stay committed to the process however long it takes.
Release Your Regrets
God specializes in do-overs, start-overs and comebacks. You cannot stay tethered to the past. You must refuse to allow the past to decide your future. The past cannot be altered, but your future certainly can be changed. God’s message is restoration, that comebacks are possible with His help. You simply can’t make a comeback while dragging around the past.
Regret imprisons us in guilt, depression, self-pity and indecision. These feelings cause us to mourn choices we have made in the past. Without releasing your regrets you’ll never be able to make forward progress. This preoccupation with the past keeps you from moving into your comeback. Regret lives in the past where nothing can ever be changed. Refuse to dwell on it, lose the self-pity and release the regret. It may make you cringe every time you think about it, but do yourself a favor and just let it go.
Abandon Setback Mentality
Setbacks don’t define you. You’re not a failure because you had a setback. You can only fail if you stop trying.
People who have a setback mentality think that everyone sees them as a failure. The reality is not everyone thinks that way. Only a few people do, and they don’t matter. Think about what you have achieved and the obstacles you have overcome. A setback does not cancel out your achievements and accomplishments.
A setback mentality is when you are self-absorbed. You are focused on the setback and all the problems it has created for you. But you can’t keep playing it over and over in your mind. In order to drop the setback mentality, you have to remember that this setback is temporary and it does not define your life. Refuse to think negatively and stay hopeful. A shift from a setback mentality to a comeback mentality is the fuel for your comeback.
Exit Survival Mode
Your comeback cannot begin when you are in survival mode. You may need to be in survival mode for a time in order to heal, but it can only temporary. There comes a point after you’ve checked out, licked your wounds and got your bearings that you have to exit survival mode. You may think you need to stay in that season longer, but it is fatal for your comeback.
Survival mode is a very isolated way of living. It can be comfortable because you can dwell on how you have been wronged, how life is unfair or how things have not gone your way. But survival mode is a fruitless way to live. There is no growth, no progress, no impact. And God did not put you on this earth just to survive. You are meant to thrive and to have your comeback.
Restore Your Confidence
Your confidence always takes a big hit when you have a setback. Setbacks have a way of affecting your confidence like nothing else. Confidence is the expectation that you will succeed. You have to restore your courage and edge. You have to choose to be confident. Take action with the confidence to step into new beginnings and new opportunities.
Confidence is crucial to a comeback because it is the power that propels you into a comeback. Confidence helps you to take advantage of opportunities – and comebacks always come with new opportunities. Confidence helps you to make the decisions you need to make. Your comeback will be in part about opportunities and about confident decisions you make regarding those opportunities.
Resurrect Your Dreams
You can decide to dream again. You are not going to allow your dreams to falter or go away. There will always be some people who will put down your dreams, who will try to discourage you from your comeback. Don’t listen to those people!
No matter what has happened don’t permit your setback to define you anymore. Become determined to move forward into your dream. What is it that you want more than anything? To make your dream a reality, the discipline must match the desire. It is not about what has happened. It is about what is next for you. Take direct, specific action to make your dream a reality.
Too many people allow their setback to be a step back. If you’ve had a setback, don’t take a step back. You can have your comeback. Setbacks do not control your life. You control your life!
A comeback is possible, but it does take work. Putting into practice these principles will help you overcome your setback. Everyone from athletes, to celebrities, to entire industries have proven it is possible. With God's help, you have the potential to write your own comeback story.
