Life is full of setbacks. Doubtless, you've had plenty too, right? Big ones, small ones, as far back as you can remember. Though discouraging at the time, some turned out much better than you'd imagined.

Back in the Old Testament, Joseph (of technicoloured dream coat fame) was the youngest of Jacob's sons and also his favourite. His brothers were extremely jealous, to the point where they conspired to kill him. In the end, though, they sold him into slavery in Egypt, where he spent years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Setback after setback. And yet, the guy simply put his best foot forward each time, one foot in front of the other. That's not easy to do after a setback, but if you read Joseph's story in Genesis, chapters 37 to 50, it's something that God honoured big time.

Joseph eventually rose to become the Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. At a time of great famine, through a series of events, those very same brothers who'd sold him into slavery stood before him. Joseph literally had the power of life and death over them. Yet this is how he responded:

Genesis 50:20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. (NRSV)

Though betrayed, enslaved, falsely accused and imprisoned, each of these massive setbacks moved Joseph closer to God's purpose: saving many lives. Because in God's kingdom, a setback is inevitably a setup for a comeback.

That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Have you ever seen someone familiar in an unexpected place or context? You kind of recognise them, but you can't quite place them. Sometimes you don't recognise them at all. That unexpected context plays strange tricks on the mind.

Such was the case for two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus after the tumultuous events of Jesus' crucifixion during the Passover festival. They'd been deeply traumatised, seeing his lifeless body hanging on that cross.

As they talked over the events of the last few days, another man pulled alongside them. Of course, the last person they expected it to be was that guy from the cross. He was dead, after all. But as He spoke, a strange, otherworldly feeling came over them.

They later recognised, to their shock, and when He'd left …

Luke 24:32 They said to each other, "When he talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. How exciting it was when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures!"

Sometimes the best therapy is simply walking with a friend. And indeed, the very best therapy, the very best healing in overcoming the trauma deep within, is to walk with Jesus.

That same risen Jesus, the one who died and rose again for you, is alive and well … and ready to walk and talk with you. He can – He will – heal your soul deep within. After all, He rose to give you a new life.

May that same fire burn in you.

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

The invention of the car has completely revolutionised the world, wouldn't you agree? From a standing start of zero in 1886, there are now over 1.5 billion vehicles on the road. But it wasn't until 1913, when Ford perfected mass production, that things really took off.

In the early days, Henry Ford thought that success rested on his own genius. His first attempts failed — too costly, too slow. Then came the shift. Ford gathered a team of engineers, mechanics and business minds. People like Charles Sorensen and the brilliant production manager Peter Martin helped sharpen his ideas.

Together they pioneered the moving assembly line, cutting production time for a Model T from twelve hours to just 90 minutes. Alone, Ford could build a car. With a team, he built an industry and put the world on wheels.

All too often we want to go it alone, imagining that we can make it happen through our own ingenuity and energy. After all, leading teams of cantankerous individuals who sometimes want to head off in different directions is hard work. But the truth is that …

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another. (NRSV)

Sparks fly when iron sharpens iron, but if there's one thing I've learned over almost fifty years in the workforce, it's this: though I can go faster alone, I simply can't go as far.

Yep, the different skills, perspectives, ideas around the table can cause sparks to fly. But they also achieve the greatest results. So, don't be afraid of the sparks, because just as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.