What should faith in the market teach us about our walk with God

Over the past couple of weeks, the markets have led us all to believe that the economy is heading into a downward tailspin. That’s for good reason — this recent correction was one of the steepest and fastest declines we’ve ever seen in the market. During that time, some might’ve panicked and left the market. Others might have set anchor and are now digging in to try to withstand these turbulent waves. Through the thundering rain, and though the waves may crash about, one glimmer of light shines through the dark grey clouds with a single, simple message: The market will return to normal. Have faith. The market has seen cycles like this before.

I’m a man of faith, so it is hard not to see the irony. The returns and losses of the market are as intangible as some would consider their faith in God to be. I believe that our lives as human beings mimic a similar cycle of the market; some years are better than others and when our backs are against the wall, we have choices to make. We could sell and fall to discouragement with the hope to enter the market on a high. We could stubbornly resist selling and ride out the waves to see where it takes us. We can also double down on our faith in God and bet more resources on our vision for what we see for our lives. I think it’s important to encourage someone to see that, even though a vision may shift, we still must risk for the future at stake.

Just as we put our trust into the market, we should also put a more faith into our walk with God. As life’s waves come crashing about, let us set sail in the sea of God’s grace that covers us day to day. Let us know and trust the scripture that has been around longer than our markets and whose evidence has shown to be true. Look to Prov. 16:1–3, “For a man plans the way of his heart but the Lord gives proper answer of the tongue. All a man’s ways may seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the motives of the heart. So in all of your ways acknowledge him and he will establish your path.” Doubling down on verses like this helps remind us to embrace our humanity and our freedom of choice — that it is OK for us to dream and have direction. All God asks is that you will put Him first, and when things look to be going south? Double down on your trust as if He were the stock market. His rate of return is better than anything we could cover in the market.

God Bless,

Derrick Alexander Jr.