Manage Your Setbacks

“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 NLT

In a story titled "Nico Young Demolishes 5,000-Meter Collegiate Record Against a stacked field of professionals,” it was reported that Nico Young became the new collegiate record-holder in the men’s 5,000 meters. On Friday, January 26, the Northern Arizona University junior shattered the time by running 12:57.14 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University. Young took more than six seconds off the previous record set by Harvard’s Graham Blanks on the same track less than two months before (13:03.78). Before Blanks, the record stood at 13:08.28, set by Lawi Lalang in 2012. Young is the first collegian in history to run under the 13-minute barrier indoors or outdoors. “I knew I could break 13 on my best day, and it was a great day today,” Young told FloTrack afterwards... The performance comes just one week after Young ran an impressive 3:57.33 in the mile at altitude at the Lumberjack Team Challenge, which converts to 3:48.71 at sea level. After the race in Boston, Young said he was battling some knee pain over the last two weeks and ran shorter distances in training to manage the setback.

And you know, when it comes to managing setbacks rather than giving up, the Bible tells us that a “godly person who trusts in the Lord and depends on Him throughout his or her life “may trip” and fall down many times but they won’t stay down for long. The righteous will overcome obstacles and challenges by God’s grace and strength, dusting themselves off and rising again, continuing to do whatever it takes to keep going as long as it takes for them to get there. On the other hand, “One disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.”

So choose to follow and trust God throughout your lifetime my friend. You’ll still experience setbacks and stumbling blocks, but with His strength and help, you’ll not only be able to manage them, you’ll come out better for the experience. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we will all trip and fall, and that it’s not a matter of if but when. Help us to get back up each time no matter how hard it might be knowing that we are not alone. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!