“I thought real change would be a straight line up. But what I’ve learned is that God’s grace meets me in every setback—and that’s where the deepest growth happens.”
Real Change Is a Journey, Not a Sprint
If you’ve started practicing CHEW on This™, you might already be seeing some encouraging changes: more peace, less anxiety, a deeper sense of God’s love. But maybe you’ve also hit some bumps—old habits that resurface, days when you forget to chew, or moments when you feel like you’re back at square one.
Here’s the truth: growth in Christ is never a straight line. It’s a journey with ups, downs, and lots of grace along the way. God isn’t measuring your progress by perfection, because all of your failings were already paid for in Christ. He promises that he will never stop working in the believer’s life (Philippians 1:6).
Why Setbacks Are Normal (and Even Necessary)
- You’re human: We all have weaknesses, distractions, and days when we fall short.
- The enemy resists: Spiritual growth is opposed, but God’s grace is greater.
- God uses setbacks: Failure can teach dependence, humility, and a deeper trust in God’s love.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
How to CHEW on Grace in Every Season
1. Confess: Be Honest About the Struggle
- “God, I feel like I’m failing again.”
- “I’m discouraged by how slow my progress is.”
- Brief Prayer: “Lord, I need Your grace to meet me here. Help me be honest and not hide from You.”
2. Hear: Receive God’s Truth About Grace
- “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
- Brief Prayer: “God, open my heart to Your mercy and remind me that Your love never runs out.”
3. Exchange: Chew on a Grace-Filled Question
- “If I really believed Your grace covers me even when I fall, how would that change how I respond to this setback?”
- “If I really believed Your mercies are new every morning, how would that change the way I start tomorrow?”
- Brief Prayer: “Jesus, help me believe Your grace is bigger than my failures and let that truth shape my next step.”
4. Walk: Respond to Setbacks With Grace
- Instead of hiding or beating yourself up, run to God with your struggle.
- Share your experience with a trusted friend or group—let them remind you of God’s grace.
- Take one small step forward, even if it’s just starting over today.
- Brief Prayer: “Father, give me courage to get up again and keep walking with You.”
Mini-Testimonial
“There was a week when I barely remembered to CHEW at all. Instead of quitting, I confessed my discouragement to God and reached out to a friend. She reminded me that God’s love hadn’t changed. That week, I learned grace isn’t just for the beginning—it’s for every step, especially the hard ones.”
What Growth Looks Like Over Time
- You become quicker to run to God after a fall, not slower.
- You notice more patience with yourself and others.
- You celebrate small victories and learn from setbacks.
- You see God’s love as steady—even when your feelings or performance aren’t.
- You become a source of grace and encouragement for others on the journey.
Try This: Grace-Filled CHEW Week
For the next seven days, pay special attention to how you respond when you miss a day, mess up, or feel discouraged.
Pause and walk through the CHEW steps, focusing on God’s grace and mercy at every turn.
Share one grace moment with a friend or group and encourage each other to keep going.
This blog post is part of an in depth exploration of what it means to CHEW on God’s love. Next up: Chewing All Day Long—How to Experience God’s Love in Every Moment. Return to the previous post in the series here.
Transparency Note: This series is crafted in collaboration with advanced AI tools and thoughtfully finalized by the 1st Principle Group staff to ensure biblical faithfulness and practical relevance for our readers.
