Stuck or Delayed? Here's How God Turns Setbacks into Setups
Oct 15, 2025
What do you do when your plans completely fall apart?
When delayed flights, lost bags, and missed connections derail your best-laid schedule? That’s exactly what happened to me on my way to lead an Adventure Retreat in Zimbabwe last week
Our 30-hour journey turned into 60. We missed full days of ministry, arrived exhausted at 3:15 a.m., with the workshop starting at 8:30am, And—to top it off—our luggage didn’t make it. In moments like that, it’s easy to slip into frustration or self-pity. But the truth of Ephesians 1:11 started whispering to my heart:
“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.”
Everything? Even delays, detours, and exhaustion?
Yes. Everything.
From Delay to Divine Appointment
In Chicago, during our first long layover, we met a fellow traveler who happened to run a bow-hunting safari in Africa. What started as a casual conversation became a meaningful connection, one that might never have happened without the delay.
Then, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, another “setback” turned into a divine setup. We connected with local friends of friends, grabbed coffee, and ended up praying with a young engaged couple. A third friend joined us, a devout Muslim, and we found ourselves in a deep, authentic conversation about faith. That moment wasn’t planned, but it was clearly God’s timing.
Sometimes the most significant ministry happens when your plans fall apart.
Leadership Lessons in the Delay
While we were grounded, our team in Zimbabwe had to step up and lead without us. The local partners who had been looking to us for direction suddenly became the ones carrying the vision forward.
In other words, our delay released their leadership.
What felt like a loss on our end became a growth moment for everyone else. God was expanding capacity, stretching faith, and proving that His Kingdom doesn’t hinge on our perfect plans.
When Grief Meets Grace
That same weekend, I was invited to preach at a local church whose beloved pastor had suddenly passed away just two weeks earlier. What could I possibly say to a grieving congregation?
God led me to Isaiah 54:2–4:
“Enlarge the place of your tent… do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left… You will not be put to shame.”
When I walked into the church, I realized, it was literally a tent. A thousand people gathered in the very kind of space the verse described. They were about to begin building a permanent structure, despite their loss. God’s word couldn’t have been clearer: you will not be embarrassed or ashamed; your Maker is your husband, and He will take care of you.
What About You?
Maybe you’re facing your own “missed connection” a delay, loss, or disruption that doesn’t make sense. It might not be about punishment or failure. It might be about preparation.
God is enlarging your capacity and working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). The question is whether you’ll trust Him in the waiting.
If you’re in that in-between space, take a moment to surrender:
“Jesus, I yield my plans, my control, and my timing to You. Thank You that You are working all things according to Your will. Teach me to rest, trust, and see the setup inside the setback.”
Key Takeaways
- Delays can be divine — God may be arranging appointments you couldn’t have scheduled yourself.
- Disruptions develop leaders — When you’re unavailable, others rise.
- Surrender brings strength — Trusting God’s timing invites peace and perspective.
Next Steps
If you’re ready to grow your faith and business together, check out the Heaven in Business Growth Path.
And if you’re walking through your own delay, dig into Ephesians 1 and Psalm 37 this week. Anchor yourself in gratitude—you’ll find God’s fingerprints all over your detour.
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