4:320 – Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

#faithbites #faithjourney #steps

Setting

Last night, I took some me time and was playing a Viking game called Valheim. This is a survival, action, crafting game that is pretty challenging. Last night, no matter how hard I tried, I felt that I was getting worse and worse. More and more mistakes, and I was losing items. I spent two hours, just getting back to the spot I started in. It was frustrating. But when I took another look, I had made progress. I took several steps forward to improve my character and my inventory. It was just a slog to get there. Two steps forward, one step back.

As we live life, we experience this all the time. From a setback at work to falling of the weight loss wagon, to losing your temper. Those steps back feel like miles while the steps forward look like inches. In these cases, our eyes are deceiving us. We are moving forward. We need to concentrate on that and trust that God will help us finish the race strong.

Today’s Questions: How do you look at setbacks? Are you actually moving backward or are the sum of your steps positive? How do you express that to others?

Scripture

• Romans 5:3-5 – 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
• James 1:12 – Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Reflection

When we look at our progress, many of us focus on the steps back and not forward. Usually what is happening is you are making progress, then get bumped back a little. Why do we focus on the backward and not the forwards? Are we so worried about loss (forward movement) that we forget the progress we are making? God tells us that we will suffer but through perseverance, we will have stronger characters and hope. God won’t let us down. We just need to keep moving. The fact is, we are always in motion, some backward, some forwards. But always moving. I challenge you to look at your life today, as a whole and compare it to where you were a few years ago. Have you moved forward? If not, what is your definition of forward progress? The other issue we often romanticize the past. When we do this we see the good we have as not as good as it was then. this negates our forward progress.

As we close, remember to look at your life through rationale lenses. You are doing better. You are on the mend. God is with you and even if you are in a rough patch right now, a couple of steps behind where you were yesterday, overall you are still making progress.

Prayer

Lord God, we pray for eyes to see the whole picture. Help us not concentrate on momentary setbacks but look at how far we’ve come. Help us to see you are our light and salvation. Remind us that two steps forward and one back is still one step forward. Help us to always be moving with you following your plan. We love you and thank you for everything you give us. In your name, we pray, Amen.