Every so-called set back is an opportunity to learn. Even the big swipes that seem to take the legs from under us are pregnant with potential for reinvention.
Keep Moving Forward Despite Disappointments
TRANSCRIPT
Please note: this transcript is auto-generated so forgive any (or many) errors 😲 – click the timestamps to play that section directly in the audio.
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I want to talk briefly today about moving forward despite disappointments, really driving through disappointment because no one is immune to setbacks, in fact, that normal and to be expected if we’re moving towards our dreams there, there are always going to be opportunities for us to back off, to give up. And we’re going to kind of a face moments in the journey when things are not working or happening or moving in the way that we would want them to, you know.
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But, you know, but the devil comes up with all sorts of ways to try and not only discourage us, but keep us in discouragement to the to the place where we give up to the place where we back off and say no more. Yeah. You’ve heard the saying one step forward, two steps back. There seems to be quite a common saying that people use, but really that the opposite is more often true, you know, and and certainly a great deal closer to reality.
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If we keep moving forward, we will always make progress. And, you know, for us to expect to stumble backwards, two steps for everyone we go forward is not exactly encouraging. It’s not momentum building. It’s more like two steps forward, one back, three steps forward, one back, five steps forward, two back, three steps forward, one back. You know, this creative momentum that we build is a bit like a dance that we learn to work with.
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But the key thing is to keep moving forward. And every setback, so-called, is actually an opportunity for us to learn. And even I found and I’m sure you have, although you would not wish such things even probably on your worst enemy. Yeah, even the big swipes in life are the ones that just take the legs out from under. You are often pregnant with potential for reinvention in a pivoting has become quite a buzzword, a buzzword in recent years.
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And, you know, with all of these pandemic induced punches that people have been taking, it’s often it has led for many people, it’s led them to uncover opportunities that they would never have realised had they not been positioned or pressured to seek them out. Now, thinking of pivoting a pivot is a fixed point, supporting something that turns or balances or the central and most important person in a thing or a situation. And Jesus really is that person.
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He is our pivot man. He is our starting point, the anchor in every area of our life. He never changes. His commitment to your victory never wanes for one second. His offer to help is never withdrawn. And all things are working together for you because you believe in him and in what he said, you know, the scriptures tell us in Romans eight, verse 28, that we are assured and know that God being a partner in our labour, all things work together for good and a fitting into a plan for good too.
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And for those who love God and are called according to his design and purpose. Romans 828 in the amplified Bible. And then again, just in a few verses later. Amidst all these things, we are more than conquerors and we gain a surpassing victory through him who loved us. You know, the art of maintaining momentum and making things happen requires a little prowess when it comes to pivoting. But you can do all things and all things are possible to you because you are a believer.
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The scriptures say that we can do all things through Christ who lives in us, infusing our spirit with all of the necessary wisdom to win in whatever situation we find ourself. I was reminded of the quote from Archimedes Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place said, and I shall move the world. You know, it’s where we it’s not really according to our strength. I mean that the Lord reminded me just recently of the verse where he said, you know, I’m going to supply all your needs according to my rich
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is not yours, you know, God will supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus, it’s according to his strength, it’s according to his power. It’s according to his provision, not mine. Thank God for that. You know, and especially in those situations where we feel less than especially in those situations where we feel as though we’ve failed, especially in those situations where we find ourself flat on our back, you know, what do we do?
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There is a strength. There is a place that we can go where we can gain perspective. Yeah, there is that that that that lever and that fulcrum that Archimedes spoke about is not found in your own strength. It’s not found in your own ability. It’s found in Christ. I believe, you know, your faith is like the leave that will move any situation and allow you to overcome any discouragement it sees beyond the battle and celebrates the victory before the victory is even as he even turned up on the horizon.
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I love one of my favourite psalms is Psalm 73. It’s written by a guy called Asef and he discovered this secret. Yeah, in Psalm 73. He shares his despair. Yeah. At seeing that that the seeming prosperity of the wicked. And here he is struggling to survive, gasping for breath and, you know, comparison. ITRs grips his soul. Yeah. Leaving him wanting, you know, and he says in some 73 verses, two and three, he says, as for me, my feet were almost gone.
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My steps had well night slept, for I was envious at the Foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked and live can seem like that. Sometimes it can seem so unfair. But there isn’t until, you know, he went through this process of complaint. Yeah. Which I’m sure we all are prone to at times. But and life can seem so unfair until. And then Psalm 73:17 after many verses laying out his complaint before the foot of his king, he says, Until I went into the sanctuary of God and understood that and every dip and every trough will be filled as sure as tomorrow follows today.
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You know, you may be down right now. You may be disappointed right now, but you will rise. Your feet may have faltered, but your future is absolutely certain. The fulcrum of your life is not determined by all of the foolish whims of this world and all of the crazy stuff that can take place. You know, we can’t really sometimes even prepare for some of the things that that come or are coming. But you are a kingdom man, a kingdom woman with an inheritance far greater than anyone else can imagine and say he says, until I went into the sanctuary.
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And then suddenly his perspective changed. He says, I’m continually with you. You hold my right hand, you will guide me with your counsel. And I have no delight or desire on earth beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and firm strength of my heart, and He is my portion forever. It is good for me to draw near to God. It is good for you to draw near to God.
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I’ve put my trust in the Lord God and made him my refuge that I may tell of all your works. So today let’s keep the most important thing, the most important thing, and swing round again to the sanctuary and allow him to strengthen our heart. Well, thanks for listening. Hopefully it’s been an encouragement to you today. If you want to connect any further, you can do so through my website. Davidleemartin.com. Have a great day.