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However, when I began to study the concept, I found quite a few more examples in the Bible — Simon and Andrew’s lack of luck in fishing, Esther and Mordecai, David — well, the list became quite long. It became quite apparent to me that one could easily create a Bible study on the subject of upsets and impediments in life.

Then I happened to run across the historical example of the Christian writer Thomas Carlyle. It so happens that on today’s date of March 6, in the year 1834, when he had completed his manuscript for the epic “The French Revolution: A History� (3 volumes, 421 pages), his maid thought the papers were fire-starter material and burnt them to light the logs in his fireplace. True to his character, he sat down and rewrote the work in its entirety, saying that it came to him direct and flaming from the heart.� To this day, almost two centuries later, “The French Revolution: A History� stands as a monumental historical work that set a blueprint for other historians to imitate and has influenced writers such a Dickens, Emerson, Wilde and Twain.

I cannot imagine the anguish Carlyle must have experienced upon this discovery, but surely it was felt as a massive setback. Carlyle’s spiritual character was able to confront the reversal of fortunes and overcome his disappointment. Not only do we find such examples of distresses in the Bible, but they occur in our lives just as well.

Carlyle’s spirit strengthened him to rewrite from memory a major literary work. Joseph’s character trait led him to focus on saving Egypt from famine. Job’s faith sustained him though unimaginable loss. And the list goes on. We can also, because setbacks will surely come our way!

As Paul said to the Christians at Philippi, “keep your eyes upon the prize of your heavenly calling,� is another way of saying, “A setback is not the end of the story. Stay focused on God’s long-term plan for the mission to which has called you,� or as my Bible professor from college used to say, “The Lord is the God of history, not just today.�

Such impeding experiences in our spiritual lives is an opportunity for us to grasp the spiritual truth that faith is a two-way street. On one hand, it provides us the opportunity to demonstrate our faith in the Lord’s ultimate control and rule over the universe, and I know that is oftentimes easier said than actually accomplished, especially when you feel you are at the bottom of the barrel looking up. But the other side of that coin is that it renders to God the chance to show to believers that their faith is invested in the sure thing.