Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

When we face a setback, it’s natural to feel stuck, especially if the loss or pain runs deep. It can be hard to let go of disappointments. While it’s important to acknowledge that setbacks can happen and things may come against us, we shouldn’t settle or give up on our dreams. Focusing on the negative, dwelling on past hurts, and reliving unfair things hold us back from reaching our full potential.

This got me thinking about the story of Abraham’s father, Terah, who had three sons. Unfortunately, his son Haran died at a young age, causing Terah much grief. Years later, God instructed Terah to leave Ur and journey to the Promised Land in Canaan. Terah gathered his family and began the journey. However, Terah chose to settle there when they reached the city of Haran, named after his deceased son, instead of continuing to the Promised Land as God had instructed.

Terah started off well, but when he arrived at the place that reminded him of the son he had lost—the location of his greatest disappointment—he became discouraged and gave up on his dream and God’s promise. He probably thought, “The Promised Land might be ahead of us, but I’ve been through too much; I’ve been hurt too many times; I’m just going to settle here.”

Terah could have been the father of many nations instead of Abraham. He was the one whom God originally told to go to the Promised Land. Our patriarchs could have been Terah, Abraham, and Isaac instead of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It all could have started a generation sooner, but Terah chose to settle. He didn’t realize that God had a second chance for him, that God could give beauty for ashes, turn mourning into dancing, and take what’s meant for harm and use it to our advantage. Instead, he chose to focus on the pain, and he became a victim of comfortable captivity, living in bondage to the familiar.

And maybe he had a good excuse – he had lost a loved one. But he could have stood his ground and said, “No, I am not going to settle in Haran. I’m not going to stay in the place of my greatest pain. I will keep moving forward, knowing that God will give me a second chance and repay me for this trouble.” If he had done that, he would have been remembered as one of the great heroes of faith.

We can’t let loss, disappointment, or bad breaks cause us to settle. We all face things we don’t understand, and life is not always fair. The key is to pass THROUGH the place of your greatest pain—the hurt, the rejection, the failure, and the mistake. If you keep moving forward, you will come into your Promised Land. God will give you beauty for ashes. Scripture says He’ll pay you back double for unfair situations.

Job experienced great disappointment when he lost his health, business, and family. In the end, God restored everything to him twofold. Job had ten children who were killed in a terrible storm, which was a great tragedy. He was devastated, but God blessed Job with ten more children: seven sons and three daughters, just like he had lost.

What am I saying? The enemy cannot stop God’s plan for your life. He may try, but he can’t do it. He’s not that powerful. God has the final say! 1 Peter 5:8 says the devil is LIKE a roaring lion. It doesn’t say he is a roaring lion. His growl is meant to scare you into staying stuck, weighed down by the pain and baggage of your past. You may have something that looks dead. You tried, and it didn’t work out. It’s been a long time. You need to get ready for your second chance. God is going to reopen what was closed. He’s going to bring back to life what was dead. He’s going to pay you back for that trouble. Don’t settle in the place of your greatest pain.

Your situation might seem hopeless, whether it’s related to your health, a relationship, or a business. You might not see any way for things to get better. But remember, God didn’t bring you this far to abandon you. There’s a second chance on the way. The first chance got you to this point, and the second chance is when you’ll see everything turn around. It’s when you witness your health being restored or your business taking off. The second chance is when you can finally say, “I can see clearly now. The dream has come true. The problem is resolved. The marriage is restored. God has completed what He started.”

It’s easy for anyone to give up and say, “It will never happen.” Doubters are a dime a dozen. But it takes a person of great faith to say, “I might not see a way, but I know God has a way. I won’t give up. I won’t settle. I won’t be discouraged. I know my second chance is coming. God has done it for others and can do it for me, too!” We either believe in what we can see or in the promises God has given us.

Don’t be discouraged by the challenges you’re facing. Even though they may seem daunting, remember that God is on your side. He can overcome any obstacles and change your circumstances for the better. No one can stand against Him; no problem is too big for Him to handle. Trust that He is clearing the path ahead, turning things in your favor, and preparing you to soar to new heights.

Sometimes, we find ourselves waiting for God to elevate us, but in reality, God is waiting for us to elevate our thinking. We need to eliminate limiting thoughts and stretch our faith to match what God has promised us. Our upbringing does not have to dictate our future — God has greater plans for us. Even if we can’t see a way or face major obstacles, we shouldn’t let that deter us, as circumstances can change.

Out of your greatest pain comes your greatest testimony. God wastes nothing we go through, so remember to keep moving forward through your pain. The key is to surrender it all to Him. By doing so, He will give you beauty for ashes, turn mourning into dancing, and use what the enemy meant for harm to shower you with His blessing and favor. I hope this message speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!