If there is one thing you can count on in your life, it’s that your path will not always be easy.
It happens to all of us sometimes. Everything seems to be going well for you when suddenly, a turn of events brings discouragement and frustration, and you feel like you just want to give up. Maybe you’ve racked up so many bad decisions that you’ve almost put any kind of happiness out of reach. You might feel as though you are at the end of your rope, just hanging on for dear life. Or it seems like after a good start, you are now running dead last in the race of life, and the finish line looks so far away that you might wonder if you can make it at all.
Our lives are filled with setbacks—those times when things just aren’t going our way, when victory seems out of our grasp, when happiness and contentment seem downright impossible. Occasional setbacks are probably unavoidable—part of the struggle of living in a fallen world. Other setbacks are due to our own sin and failures or circumstances outside our control. But God has an answer for our every setback; He wants to orchestrate a comeback in our lives.
If you will stay the course, you will discover God’s power to reverse the irreversible in your life.
I know because I’ve been there. I can relate.
It’s a miracle that I am where I am today, the pastor of a large church in Dallas who regularly speaks in front of large groups of people. Why do I say it’s a miracle? Well, I’ll explain by sharing something with you that I don’t talk about very often. Maybe you’ll find it encouraging.
When I was younger, I had a terrible problem with stuttering. It was hard to get through a sentence without hesitation and a bunch of distracting little fillers, like “umm” and “er” For years, just getting a complete sentence out of my mouth on the first try was nearly impossible.
Soon after my conversion, I knew I wanted to be a speaker who would share about Christ to a room full of listeners.
But who would have the patience to listen through all my stuttering? My parents and doctors didn’t know why I stuttered, and they didn’t know how to help me. I couldn’t express my thoughts clearly, and it looked like I might have to give up my dreams of becoming a speaker.
But God, in His wisdom, had chosen to use me—even as a broken mouthpiece for Him. I wouldn’t give up even though the circumstances were lined up against me. I was tempted to let go of my dream, but instead, I held on to God. You see, God had given me something important to say, even if I couldn’t say it well. If I kept my heart and mind focused on His plan, He would see me through the stuttering and allow His words to flow from my mouth.
My comeback didn’t happen overnight. I had to work, I had to practice, I had to pray, and I had to get some help from trained speech therapists.
But God gave me a comeback. Today, I speak in front of people all the time. Every Sunday, I preach two sermons, each nearly an hour in length, to thousands of people. And I regularly travel around the country for speaking engagements. I’ve spoken in front of crowds as large as a million people. I am grateful for opportunities to share my faith in front of an audience. Me, the kid who couldn’t speak a single sentence with clarity or confidence due to my stuttering. Some would have counted me out, but God never did. And I never gave up because it wasn’t easy.
Comebacks don’t seem likely when your back is up against the wall and your hope is depleted. But if you will stay the course, you will discover God’s power to reverse the irreversible in your life. Look to Him always, honor Him first, and then watch Him use your mouth in ways you never imagined—for your good and His glory.
Why We Do What We Do
"Dr. Evans,
This is a brief message to inform you that I am a social studies teacher at SF Christian Schools in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I strongly believe in your ministry and what it means for millions of people around this world. I do my very best to read your devotions and/or show your video clips to my students on a daily basis. Your devotions have had a great impact on the students and myself, and I am very pleased that all of your devotions are always Bible-driven and very relevant to all, especially my young adults here at SFC Schools. Thanks for being such a great Christian example for myself and ALL of my students."
—Jason
"Hello, Dr. Evans,
My name is Malik. I live in Los Angeles, CA, and I am a worship leader at Oasis Church. I just completed a study group with some powerful men of God on your powerful curriculum, Kingdom Man. This has transformed our vision of manhood to be more in line with God’s plan. Thank you, sir. We are now charged to become stronger leaders in our church and community."
—Malik
