I don’t know what it is about this year already. For some reason I have been slacking in sticking to my readings. Not only the readings, but I have missed too many Sundays already. I haven’t been praying like I should either. If you were to look at my life the past few months, you would be able to tell. It has been a roller coaster of ups and downs; mainly downs. The ups aren’t as big as the downs. It’s that whole “1 step forward, 3 steps back” type of thing. For instance, my car going out when we are about an hour away from home wasn’t pleasant. Finally getting it towed to the shop so they could tell me the transmission is just shot. Unfortunately, them ordering a used one is the same cost as having someone rebuild it; $2500, not including labor and fluid. Now, I don’t know how many of you can drop that kind of money just whenever, but I am not one of those people. So I started looking online, and there were some options, but though they may be cheaper, they may not be as good. So, do you go with the cheaper option that is only warrantied for 6 months, or the expensive option which is warranted for 3 years? Well, here is when I did that thing where you hit hard times and ask God for help. Never mind that you haven’t been keeping in touch like you should have been for the past 3 months. At 8:10 last night a text message comes in. On the outside it just seems like a dad helping out his daughter, but I know the truth. It was God, and he was saying “see what happens when you let me do the work”. He is really good about giving you those “I told you so” moments.

There is something about these times though. When you have been slacking in your faith, and then turn yourself around to find the light again, it’s refreshing. I can honestly tell when I have been getting sloppy and sidetracked from my path. I get tired, lethargic, lazy, moody. Just all around…..blah! When I start correcting these mistakes, the light starts shining on my face again. I feel more energetic. I get more stuff done. I’m just all together happier and more productive. When I am purposefully walking with God, even the bad things don’t seem so bad. Life becomes more “3 steps forward, 1 step back”.

When hard times come around, think back on when it started and take a look at your faith. Has it faltered, even just the tiniest bit? God knows we will stumble and fall, but He is always there for us when we try to get back up.

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” –Proverbs 13:4