Nelson Mandela’s was one of those “from prison to palace” stories. He spent a long time in jail for his agitation to end apartheid in South Africa. He later went on to be the first elected black man in post-apartheid South Africa. Here is one of his many iconic quotes: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” This underscores a fundamental law of success. His approach to life reflected the sentiment shared by the prophet Micah.

The inability to reach a set goal at first call does not mean you will never get it. Those who succeeded in one venture or the other will tell you that it was not the first stroke that brought them the breakthrough.

With one stroke of the pen, Micah showed what stuff he was made of. He did not exhibit a jelly spirit that would readily succumb to a setback. In our text of Scripture for meditation, he put the enemy on notice that one failure was not going to seal his fate. He was going to give it another shot, confident that God would come through for him. Many people have not mastered the art of managing set-backs. The inability to reach a set goal at first call does not mean you will never get it. Those who succeeded in one venture or the other will tell you that it was not the first stroke that brought them the breakthrough. This is where reading biographies can prove invaluable. You will find out that many success stories came at a cost, and after many setbacks. If you are experiencing some downturn at the moment, be assured that it is not yet over. You can enjoy what Mandela described as “the greatest glory in living” as you appropriate to bounce back each time you are challenged.