WORTHACHARM

“Every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow stronger”

When Life Feels Like 2 Steps Forward, 10 Steps Back

You know that feeling when life seems to be going well, then boom, something hits and sets you back? Like you’ve made progress, only to feel like you’re right back where you started, or worse. I always say two steps forward, ten steps back (yes, I’m dramatic), but in those moments, it really feels like that. You’ve done so much work, made so much progress, just to be put on pause. That pause often brings a stillness we’re not prepared for, but it’s necessary. They say “minor setback for a major comeback”, but let’s be honest: in the moment, it just feels like a major setback… with no comeback in sight.

When life pauses our plans and creates a stillness in our lives, our first response is often to complain, give up, or push even harder. But in the moment of stillness, God is wanting us to turn to Him, to listen, and to trust Him because He is already ahead of it. Growth doesn’t always come from doing more, sometimes it comes from sitting still and gaining clarity.

Hurts and Pains of Setbacks

Let’s be real, setbacks hurt. They can bring a lot of emotional pain, frustration, and even isolation. And no one will ever fully understand your pain unless they’ve walked through it with you. But that doesn’t make your setback any less valid or real. It hurts when you have to put your life on pause or to step back from a project/goal that you are working on, either because God is saying “not right now” or something unexpected happens. Even if it’s just an inconvenience or the result of a past mistake/decision, it still hurts to have to put things on pause. Especially, when you have your momentum going and you’ve been on a roll. Let’s be real it can be mentally draining in the moment, and it can get so depressing. But we can’t let our setbacks win or define us.

The Purpose in the Pause

Putting life on pause is painful, but it’s not the end. It’s not square one. It’s a chance to reflect, reset, and realign. Often, God places us in these pauses because there’s something else that needs our attention. And sometimes, the very thing He needs us to focus on is the key to picking back up where we left off.

So putting things on pause isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it helps us grow and ensure we are moving in the right direction.

Reflection Is Key

Setbacks give us the chance to reflect—on ourselves, our choices, our relationships, and our environments. It is in this space we are able to learn and unlearn habits, character flaws, or rediscover positive traits about ourselves that needs embracing. Reflective moments are so beneficial to our growth because let’s be real, we all have areas in our life that needs to be look over and needs some improving. Sometimes, the setback isn’t caused by others, but by us. Our habits, mindset, or unresolved issues. That’s why reflection is so important. It helps us correct what’s been silently holding us back from reaching our potential.

Correcting What Needs Fixing

Some mistakes might be easy to ignore in the moment, but trust me, they come back. I’m learning that the longer you wait to fix what’s broken, the more disruption it causes later with leaving you no choice but to fix it. So, it’s best to take care of it in the moment because it will catch back up to you, and it can cause a setback in your life.

Realignment with God

Often, setbacks are use to be a direct invitation to realign with God. Instead of trying to figure it out on your own or sulking into your sorrows, He wants you to turn towards Him and spend time with Him. He is the help you need to move forward to your redeem yourself from your setback. He wants you to allow Him to move in your life with the work from your obedience and being in His Word to gain His understanding and wisdom. His way is the best way forward, and when you choose to realign, you’ll feel a peace that doesn’t make sense in the middle of the chaos. It’ll require trust, patience, and sacrifice, but it’s not impossible nor will you fall short because He is with you.

Moving Forward In Growth

Now it’s time to move forward. Maybe you felt regret, frustration, or disappointment when the setback hit. But now? You’ve reflected. You’ve corrected. You’re healing. You’re breaking old habits and focusing on what needed your attention. You’re understanding the process of pauses in your life.

Setbacks are going to happen in life, but with setbacks there are major comebacks. And in this comeback, you’re stepping back into life with more wisdom, clarity, and direction than before.

“What looks like a setback could actually be a setup for something greater”

“In life when the rains come and the storm howl, you must be determined to love life after the storm.” – Pastor Debra Morton