The Lord spoke these words:
"For whatever setback that you have experienced recently, this is your time to receive a new strength and a fresh hope from Me. Look to Me, because I am setting you free for the new things ahead of you, even things that you have not seen or done before. For every opportunity that you have missed out this year, watch how I am going to open a way for you in the year ahead. Just don't limit how I am going to do it."
We all have setbacks at one time or another. It may be:
- an issue that hurts us;
- a relapse in something we work on;
- a disappointment that we did not foresee;
- an unfortunate interruption in progress.
People of God, whatever your setback may be in recent times, be it in relationships, in career, in ministry, in business, or in any other area of life, the Lord is offering you a fresh hope today. Look to Him, and trust in His infinite wisdom to make a way and open a way for you.
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) says, 'Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert'. Indeed, if He can make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, He can do the same in your life, whatever your 'wilderness' or 'desert' may be.
Interestingly, there's actually someone in the Scripture whose name means 'The Lord opens a way'. His name is Jephthah ('Yiphtach' in Hebrew), coming from two words, 'Yah' (meaning 'the Lord') and 'pathach' (meaning 'open a way'). Notice that he's had his setbacks initially, but in spite of those setbacks, he ended up being listed among the heroes of faith in the book of Hebrews, alongside the likes of Gideon, Samuel and David, among others (see Hebrews 11:32).
Let's look at his background now. Reading from Judges 11:1-3, Jephthah was born to Gilead (his father), but his mother was a prostitute. As Gilead's wife also bore him sons, these sons drove Jephthah away from their home, because he was a 'son of another woman'. "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family," they said, "because you are the son of another woman." Speaking of being born at the wrong place, and into the wrong family! You can imagine all those years staying together with his brothers, he was being mocked, ridiculed, and even called names like "Hey, son of the whore!" or "Hey, son of the prostitute!" It hurts. It really hurts.
Now, having been dumped by his own family, Jephthah had no choice but to settle elsewhere. But the Lord was good to him, and he ended up in the land of Tob, where a group of 'homeless and worthless people' would gather around him and follow him as their leader. There, he gained a reputation as a mighty warrior, so much so when the nation of Israel came under attack by the enemy, those same brothers (who drove him away) had to turn to him and ask him to be their commander! (Judges 11:4-8)
Interestingly, of all lands, he ended up in the land of Tob! And you know what 'Tob' means in Hebrew? There are no insignificant details in the Bible. This word 'Tob' literally means 'good' in Hebrew. You see, even though Jephthah was 'kicked out' by his brothers, he eventually ended up in the good hands of the Lord! And in spite of his broken past and broken background, the Lord could still use him greatly - to bring deliverance for the nation of Israel (who was crying out to the Lord for help at that time)!
People of God, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Whatever your setback may be in recent times, let it go and don't look back. Receive a new strength and a fresh hope from the Lord today. The best is yet to come. Like Jephthah, you too are now in the good hands of the Lord! Hallelujah!
