Set-backs Create Opportunities For Comebacks!

My husband Robert performed the wedding ceremony of Glenn and Mindy Stearns in 2003

If you are worried or experiencing any of life's set-backs be inspired by Mark Thallander www.markthallander.com, a world-famous organist who lost an arm in a terrible car accident, or how about"Soul Surfer" Bethany Hamilton  www.bethanyhamilton.com who had her arm ripped-off and was almost killed by a shark.  Read about our good friend Glenn Stearns, www.stearns.com or  www.glennandmindy.com who nearly lost everything at the onset of the real estate/mortgage crash.  As Glenn was personally disassembling the cubicles in his office, he had his wife videoing it as he said, "this challenge will be a part of my story."

 My husband Robert A. Schuller wrote a book by the title "The World's Greatest Comebacks".  The year was 1988.  Since he wrote this book almost twenty-five years ago I think it's more than time he write volume 2, sighting the amazing come-back stories of the three listed above as well as many others we've been blessed to know since then! 

 How do Mark, Bethany, Glenn and an endless list of others have the courage, the perseverance, the faith and the fortitude to keep on keeping-on? When almost everything they have worked for or everything they are seems to have been taken away how do they stay faithful to their God-given purpose?   How do they come-back after life-threatening injuries and despair or impending financial disasters and end-up making an even more profound mark on society than they ever could before their set-backs?!

 The Bible is full of come-back stories where real people overcame huge obstacles. www.biblegateway.com  Here's a few of my take-aways from those stories and the ones of the people I listed above:  don't dwell on the past-it can blur your focus of a beautiful future;  hold on to hope- even in your darkest times;  reach forward in faith-even when you don't feel like it; and blanket all of it by loving others through their tough times even when you're going through your own. *Believe with all of your heart that there is a greater purpose involved in your set-backs or your suffering.

All of us experience challenges from time to time.  Some people's are more severe than others and some will never recover.  Few will become more than they ever imagined possible as a result of their painful experiences.
 Many things in life are out of our control.  I believe that we should live as suggested by St. Augustine  and "work like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on God."  This attitude has personally seen me through many obstacles and rough times.  It works.  

"The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike"   Matthew 5:45

Even if you live a Godly life, full of purpose, passion and goodness-no one is immune from some kind of suffering or set-back.  Here's the question: what will you do as a result of the storms in your life?  Like the examples which I used above in the personal stories of Mark, Bethany, and Glenn I hope that you will choose to become better instead of bitter.  Please go to their websites and be encouraged by their individual stories.

  Even in times of loss there is still so much to be thankful for.   Don't look back but instead look up!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 
God is blessing you.   Donna