Living Life by Design

I’m in the residential mortgage business. My wife and two of my three children are as well. We are a mortgage family and for the most part, and we love it. Today, in 2022 the mortgage rate environment is very high making it difficult for us to do business. This is the fourth major economic downturn I’ve been through. They certainly are not for the faint of heart.

The government assures us that we are NOT in a recession, even though all the typical indicators tell us we are. Well known economists line up according to their political affiliation and tow the party line. Each have their own “data, statistics and expert opinion” proving their point. It’s difficult to know whom to believe.

Rick Warren, once said that life was a series of battles, followed by times of blessing. Now, he thinks of life as being on two tracks – one track is blessing, the other is battle. They run concurrently.

At any given point in our life there is usually some area that causes us trouble and/or distress. It may be something we are going through, or it could be a family member, a close friend, or something to do with the economy, like now.

The psalmist in Psalm 119 certainly went through times of battle: ‘Trouble and distress have come upon me’ (v.143a). How did he respond, and how too should we respond? The psalmist’s answer is to keep trusting in the Lord. He keeps on believing that God’s words are “fully trustworthy” (v.138): “your servant loves them… your commands are my delight” (vv.140,143).

We must remember that regardless of what happens in/to the world around us, we are to fix our eyes and our thoughts upon the Lord. Unlike world leaders, political figures, economists, or so-called experts, “Righteous are you, O Lord” (v.137).

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus…” (Hebrews 3:1).

Today, are you worried, concerned or even frightened? Where are your eyes fixed? On the problem, or the solution?