Let me tell you a tale of youthful ambition, shattered dreams, and an unexpected rise to fame—literally. Picture this: a group of young lads gearing up to lip sync their way to stardom at a talent show. They had everything ready—costumes, swagger, and a record that would make the crowd swoon. But as they strutted up the stairs to the stage, disaster struck! The record slipped, shattered into multiple pieces, and with it, their plan to fool the audience.

The stage manager, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Well, boys, looks like you’ll have to actually sing the song now. You know it, don’t you?” With no other option, they took a deep breath, stepped into the spotlight, and sang their hearts out. The crowd went wild! When they came off the stage, the manager smiled and said, “Never pretend to sing—just sing!” And sing they did, all the way to the top. That’s right, folks—we know them today as The Bee Gees. That shattered record was one of their best things.

Now, let’s talk about setbacks. They’re about as common as a Monday morning coffee spill. Maybe you’ve been there: you get a flat tire on your way to that big meeting, lose your job right after buying a non-refundable vacation package, or miss out on that promotion you were banking on. Perhaps your kid gets into some trouble that drains your wallet faster than you can say, “Allowance cut!” Setbacks, big or small, happen to everyone. But here’s the kicker: it’s not about the setback itself; it’s about how you bounce back. Think of it as a muscle—the more you flex it, the stronger it gets. With a bit of optimism, discipline, focus, and a whole lot of faith, that setback might just be setting you up for a comeback. Yes, it may be one of your best things.

So next time you’re faced with a disaster, remember this:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

When you run, you take leaps. Unlike walking, where one foot remains grounded before the next step, running involves a series of bold, ungrounded movements. But you didn’t just start by leaping; you began by walking. That’s why we’re advised to walk before we run.

In the recent Olympics, we witnessed athletes who were trained to leap farther, faster, and higher. In extreme sports, athletes push leaping to the next level. Yet, each of them started with a small, simple leap.

Every day, we get the chance to leap to a new level. It’s natural to feel fear as we step into the uncertainty of the unknown. But with practice, we learn to exercise the faith required to take those leaps. As our faith grows, we conquer bigger challenges. This might seem reckless, but when your faith is rooted in God, it’s not blind faith. Trusting in Him allows Him to guide your steps, and if you stumble, He’ll be there to support you.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
—Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)

In Matthew 14:22-33, we read the story of Jesus walking on water toward His disciples, who were in a boat sailing to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When the disciples saw Him, they were afraid, but Jesus reassured them, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter, seeking confirmation, asked Jesus to call him to walk on the water toward Him. Jesus said, “Come.” Peter began to walk on the water, but when he was distracted by the wind and waves, he started to sink. Yet Jesus caught him before he went under, saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

With faith in Jesus, we can walk on water or take steps and leaps that we couldn’t make on our own. That’s the beauty of divine trust.

In their book Beyond Positive Thinking, Arnold Fox, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D., told a story of a bank president named Jake, who referred to himself as “the acid in my employees’ lives.” He felt it was his duty to make them miserable.

In his book, The 10X Rule, Grant Cardone, billionaire investor, speaker and author, said “It is your duty, obligation, and responsibility to create as much wealth as possible so that you can take care of yourself, your family, and your community.”

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” He believed it was his duty to serve in the fight for India’s independence and the rights of its people through non-violence.

During World War II, Winston Churchill delivered a speech to the House of Commons in 1940, in which he famously said, “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be… we shall never surrender.” He believed it was a moral duty to protect Britain’s democracy and freedom against the tyranny of Nazi Germany.

We are all driven by some type of duty whether consciously or unconsciously, whether healthy or destructive. I submit that your duty should be something you desire that makes a positive difference in the life of someone else, rather than settling for living reactively to whatever happens to you or being a source of dread for someone else. Make this a duty.

Romans 13:7 (English Standard Version):

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

This verse reflects the duty to fulfill obligations, whether they are financial, social, or moral, toward others.

Dr. Miles Monroe, ordained minister, professor, author, speaker and leadership consultant once delivered a speech on seven traits of an eagle and how we can apply them to our lives. Let us review them.

Eagles…

1. Fly Alone

• Spend time with positive and uplifting people. Eagles soar solo, symbolizing independence and self-reliance. Surround yourself with those who inspire and support your journey.

Scripture: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

2. Have Amazing Vision

• Focus on one goal without distractions. Like an eagle spotting prey from miles away, keep your eyes on your target and don’t let anything divert your attention.

Scripture: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

3. Eat Fresh Prey

• Let go of the past and seek new opportunities. Eagles eat only fresh food, reminding us to seek new experiences and stay energized by fresh ideas and challenges.

Scripture: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” – Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

4. Test Before Trusting

• Trust only those who show commitment. Just as eagles test their mates, evaluate others’ dedication before relying on them. Invest your trust wisely.

Scripture: “But test them all; hold on to what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NIV)

5. Embrace Storms

• See challenges as opportunities to grow. Eagles fly into storms to rise higher. Use life’s difficulties to propel yourself to greater heights, transforming adversity into strength.

Scripture: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3 (NIV)

6. Prepare Meticulously

• Step out of your comfort zone to achieve greatness. Eagles build their nests in high, challenging places. Prepare thoroughly and embrace discomfort as a pathway to growth.

Scripture: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8 (NIV)

7. Renew Regularly

• Let go of old habits and embrace new beginnings. Eagles renew by shedding old feathers. Periodically retreat to reflect, shed outdated habits, and emerge stronger and revitalized.

Scripture: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

We can learn a thing or seven (not just two) from the eagle. Which one will you adopt today?