When we think of daisies, we think of sunny days and cheerful faces. But where would the daisies be without the rain?

I want to take a moment to talk to you about setbacks. This season has been one of ‘shaking’ for many people, so if you have been feeling overwhelmed, know that you are not alone. Life seems to be one battle after another, and if you have even one ounce of the prophetic call on your life, you’ll be sensitive to the challenges and exhaustion many are feeling. It looks like chaos out there. As we speak, Bethel Church is in the thick of a Prophetic Conference and calling this the ‘shaking season’.

We all face setbacks and there is no point in pretending it doesn’t rain. I became ill at the end of November last year. I attempted to ignore it and deny it but if you guessed that was futile, you guessed correctly. I “lost” two months from my schedule and yes, that’s a big deal for someone who thrives on planning. It may be a little raw and too candid to share, but I had to fight to remember that setbacks are not permanent and there’s grace to pick up the baton from wherever I dropped it and keeping running.

Have you noticed that setbacks double-down on any negativity in your thought life? They exaggerate any nagging lie that holds you back, lies like not being good enough or never making it to the finish line. A big lie is that the storm will last forever, and the rain will never stop. All. Not. True.

I won’t tell you to dance in the rain, although you’re welcome to. I’m simply saying, “let it rain”. It’s toxic to pretend life is all sunbeams on daisies. Setbacks are real, but how we respond to our setbacks makes all the difference. I encourage you to push through fear, failure, and worry; and stop and breathe. Nothing that happens is a surprise to God. Use your setback to grow and learn. Remember, there is no losing, only winning and learning. Your journey is your journey, and it takes as long as it takes. Use your setback to draw closer to God.

|||  “I never lose. I either win or learn” ~ Nelson Mandela

Turn your setbacks into opportunities to become more resilient, more determined, more focussed, and more real. The ebb and flow is authentic. Think about it like a bow and arrow, the further you pull back the greater the potential velocity of the arrow.

Don’t give up. Every step forward is progress. No one is counting. No one is watching. It is between you and God, and God’s got this!

||| “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Phil 3:14

Here are three things to help you work through it:

1. Rest and assess. What caused the setback, and what can you learn from it? Do you need to make changes and adjustments to move forward, or are you being harder on yourself than the situation calls for? How can you be authentic in this?
2. Surround yourself with positive people who want you to win. Having support and encouragement can make all the difference when you’re facing challenges. Take time to sit with seasoned warriors.
3. Keep your eyes on the goal. Keep expectations realistic. Remember whose timeline it ultimately is. Don’t allow setbacks to distract you. Setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Use the rain!