Great Comebacks
By David Faust
Comebacks capture our imagination. Abraham Lincoln suffered several defeats at the ballot box before he was elected president. In 1915 Winston Churchill said, “I am finished,” after leading a disastrous naval campaign, but decades later as England’s prime minister he inspired the nation to persevere against the Nazi war machine. H.B. Reese lost his job working as a dairyman for the Hershey Company in Pennsylvania, then formed his own candy company (which failed), but ultimately he created a unique way of combining chocolate and peanut butter for his Reese’s Cups—one of the sweetest comeback stories of all time.
Football fans recall the New England Patriots’ epic come-from-behind victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 Super Bowl, roaring back from 25 points behind to win 34-28. On June 29, 1952, baseball’s Chicago Cubs trailed the Cincinnati Reds, 8-2, with two outs and no runners on base in the top of the ninth. However, the next nine batters all reached base safely, pushing across seven runs, and the Cubs won the game 9-8.
At age 45, George Foreman returned to boxing after a five-year retirement and regained the world heavyweight title. In 1993, Monica Seles was the top female tennis player in the world when she was stabbed by a disturbed fan who obsessively supported a rival tennis player. She recovered enough to compete in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, then won a bronze medal in 2000 in Sydney. When Michael Jordan was a sophomore in high school, a basketball coach assigned him to the junior varsity team instead of the varsity, bypassing him in favor of a taller player, but eventually Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to three consecutive NBA titles. Surfer Bethany Hamilton lost an arm in a shark attack, but she returned to surfing and won the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete.
BIBLICAL COMEBACKS
You can find great comeback stories in the Bible. Joseph was sold into slavery, his father gave him up for dead, and false accusations landed him in prison, but eventually he became one of Pharaoh’s top officials. After 40 years of obscurity in the desert, Moses returned to Egypt and led the Hebrews to freedom. Job lost his health, wealth, and children, but in time God restored his prosperity and multiplied his blessings.
Jonah looked like a goner when he sank into the sea, but three days later he was back on land and heading toward Nineveh to preach God’s Word. The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, but 70 years later the Jews came back from captivity and rebuilt the Holy City.
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” his followers thought their dreams were dying with him. “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” lamented the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:21). What a great comeback it was when Jesus emerged alive from the tomb! The Lord predicted another great comeback when he said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).
TIME TO RETURN
The prophets often proclaimed bad news, but their messages also contained encouragement and hope. Joel urged, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate” (Joel 2:13).
Have you drifted away from the Lord? Have you neglected God, separated yourself from the church, and allowed your faith to wane? It’s not too late.
Come back.
Personal Challenge: Do you know someone who has turned a setback into a comeback? If so, what have you learned from them about faith and perseverance? In what area of your own life do you need to “return to the Lord” (Joel 2:13)?
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