Upward
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)
Life can be so good! The highs you may experience after a perfect evening with your spouse or significant other can seem magical. Watching your kids or grandkids excel in something they love gives us new energy. We want to hold on to those moments forever.
And still it is hard. The uncertainty of a diagnosis can paralyze us. Trust issues with a team member at work, or someone close to us, can turn our world upside down. Sometimes, the “business” of life takes hold of us and leaves us distracted and unfocused.
To live life well, you must invest in what is most essential. You invest in your relationship with Jesus. You invest in your relationships with friends and family. You invest in your family’s financial future. But these investments don’t always turn out like we hope.
Imagine the trajectory of those relationships in the form of a line graph. Where are you on the graph? Are you at a peak, a valley, or somewhere in-between? We are bound to experience short-term fluctuations in all of our relationships, but is the long-term trend moving in the right direction?
You may experience times when you question your faithfulness. Maybe you haven’t picked up Scripture in a few weeks, or haven’t earnestly prayed in a few days.
You will have times when you feel like you fall short as a spouse, a parent, a leader, or a team member.
There will be times when your investments are down and the economy looks bleak.
But in your faith, your relationships, and your finances, the long-term trend should be up. Do you talk with Jesus more now than you did a few years ago? A decade ago? Are you more understanding of your spouse now than when you were first married? Is your financial future more sound today than it was when you began your career?
When you feel like you are in one of the low points, pray for the Holy Spirit to help you out of your slump. After you’ve taken some time to work on yourself, plan for the necessary actions which allow Him to take you to the next level. Proceed and let Jesus do the heavy lifting to help with what’s next.
Your faith is so important to Him. He deeply cares about your relationships. He also cares about how you spend, save, and invest your finances. These are all just too important for letting them languish in an extended “bear market.”
Father, help me run the race, and fight the good fight. When I enter the valleys, pull me out and give me the wisdom to know how I can help fulfill what is most important to You.
