One morning, I was heading out for a quick walk and as soon as I stepped outside, that quick walk became a rather quick turnaround. I didn’t go back home to stay, but I did go back home to change what I was wearing because it was freezing! It wasn’t brisk, it wasn’t cold, it was freezing! However, I didn’t stay home, I simply changed into thicker layers and then I went right back to my walking routine. God spoke to me and said , turning back to regroup is not a problem but too often, many people turn back and stop, or turn back and stay back. Sometimes in life, you may set out to do something, or have been giving a responsibility to do something, and quickly realize that it’s not what you thought it would be, or that it’s more than you thought it would be. In a situation like finances, you may receive money and find out quickly that budgeting is not your strong point. That does not mean to continue the habit of bad budgeting or frivolous spending, rather it means that some revamping and reconstruction needs to take place. There is a relatable story to that in the Bible, the story of the prodigal son told in the 15th chapter of Luke, verses 11-32. The story describes a certain man with two sons, and the youngest son requested his share of the estate. The Bible says that when he received it, he spent it on frivolous things. It‘s safe to say that budgeting and discernment were not his strong points or gifts. He even got to a point that was so low, that he found himself eating amongst the pigs in the pigs pen and desiring what the pigs were eating because he so hungry. It was also at this point that he came to his senses and went back to his fathers house. What turned his heart to go back? Well, while in the pigs pen he thought about how the servants at his home and how even they had food. He also had to face his reality that if he stayed in that same place much longer, he would die of starvation. His whole demeanor changed to a posture of humility and reality. He even rehearsed what he would say when he returned home and saw his father again. Luke 15:21 reads, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” After he said that, he got out from that rut.
Challenges come in many forms such as finances, a new job, a new school, a new workout routine, even a healthier lifestyle can become difficult, just know it’s ok to regroup. Seek out ways to revamp and regroup wisely with all humility. The main thing is staying the course and not giving up and if things do get overwhelming, remember to remain humbled and seek out the Lord for your next set of directions. You may need to go back and change somethings in your life or you may need to remind yourself of the promises and accomplishments that await you in order for you “to come to your senses” and get back out from a low place. Either way, just know it’s okay to turn back but just don’t stay back!