The Upside of Down Times

Times are tough. People are losing jobs. Worry and fear abound. What should we do? Amazingly...celebrate!

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4

Undoubtedly, this passage is a head-scratcher if you are hurting right now. But as my old pastor friend used to say, "It's in the Book for some reason...I guess 'cause it's true." The Bible is written from the perspective of One who knows how your situation is going to end. The Bible looks at life like I do a DVR of my team when I know they have already won. I can relax because I have no fear of losing.

In tough times we all may live without something. We may face difficult transitions. We may be pushed to our limits. But we will not lose. In fact, we win according to James 1 and a bunch of other passages. There is an upside to down times.

Here are a few upsides: 1. Your real Christian life shows up in tough times. If it is good then you will have greater influence and be admired by others. If it is bad you will be able to see what needs improvement with a clarity you could never have in good times. Understanding yourself more clearly is worth a lot. Coach Woody Hayes said (I will give you the G-rated version), "Nothing cleanses your soul like getting the crap kicked out of you!" Cleansing our souls, getting rid of false notions is a liberating by-product of tough times.

2. Your real friends turn up in tough times. In the good times friends benefit from your blessings. But when you have needs you see who is with you only because of you. A friend who loves us unconditionally in the tough times is truly a gift from God.

3. The really valuable things in life light up in tough times. As the things we thought were important fade, the really valuable things light up. In some recent challenges, my sons have been a great source of wisdom and encouragement to me. They are really valuable in my life and have become more visible in difficulty. There are so many things we focus on but really only a few matter and in the toughest times the most valuable things--faith, family, friends--light up.

Things may be down right now, but you don't have to be!