Before reading this, you must read Part 1 here.
Rest & Reset Questions
There’s a reason I go off the grid during Christmas break. Besides vegging out, chilling with family, watching documentaries, reading and studying the Bible, evaluating my fitness goals, sleeping better to get rid of these wrinkles; I am super intentional about reflecting on my life. Here are some questions I journal for my annual, amplified evaluation:
✅ How did this past year go?
✅ Why did certain things happen like that?
✅ What voices am I listening to the most?
✅ How does it affect next year?
✅ What do I want to do, see, and experience in 2025?
Let’s break these down for some examples.
#1. How’d this past year go?
This was the year of breaks. It started on Christmas Day last year when my wife’s wrist broke. Then lots of stuff in the business broke. Same with our ministry. Then my truck. Lots of stuff at the house. Some relationships. We counseled a lot of breaks too. Something was in the air this year for many people!
No pity parties for the Theo’s. On paper it would seem to the world that we should be broke! Yet somehow in the chaos, our marriage is better than ever, our family is closer than ever, and our faith in the Lord is stronger than ever. Certain things happened this year that were super refreshing. We have more peace and joy in our jobs and home than ever before. Among all the breaks, I’m in awe of all the BREAKTHROUGHS.
Plus, it could always be worse and some have it way worse. Just in our small church body we lost two close friends in the spring. Little Izzy (15 yrs old) and Angie (44 yrs old) both died from cancer. Our other friend is enduring brain cancer and Angie’s mom now has cancer. I have no right to wallow in my setbacks!
During my evaluation I wrestle with one setback in particular, however. We lost $10,000 in a barn project we worked on for two years (if we add up the other costs we invested it’s close to $15,000). This was a project we were certain we were called into. It’s the main reason we moved our home residence. The vision was huge. We felt obedient against all odds. Everything lined up. At the last second, the project got shut down.
Maybe just temporarily. Who knows. We know there’s a reason though. We learned a lot. But it does make you ponder and mull over the details.
#2. Why did certain things happen like that?
How many of you know we often learn way more from losses, pain, and pits than we do victories, rewards, and mountain tops? Did things happen to us or for us? Did it happen to break us or build us? I’ve learned time and time again that though the experience might seem painful, it’s in our brokenness that God builds us back up.
The “why” is often about our spiritual growth:
- Do you still consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds? (James 2:1)
- Are you still praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances? (1 Thess 5:17-18)
- Do you still sing and make melody to the Lord with your heart during worship even when other circumstances try to weigh you down? (Ephesians 5:19)
Trust me, there were many times this year I thought, “Why am I being disciplined?!” In the least bit I know, “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10-11)
God is always pruning & refining us to operate in the Spirit and not the flesh. We can’t control what happens to us but we can control our response to situations. If you don’t take time to reflect on the why then you may miss the what He’s preparing you for next time.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Sometimes you just need to rest in this. His ways are better. After mulling things over for a bit, it’s ok to admit that we honestly don’t always know why, but He does. There are some instances I’ll never be able to make sense of and I’m good with not thinking about them anymore. That’s huge growth for me this past year. Without this evaluation time I wouldn’t catch that! (I’m in awe of how much the Lord has grown me).
#3. What voices am I listening to most?
One of the most freeing realizations is knowing that people don’t really care about you. You think that sounds harsh? Ok fine, they really don’t think about you. They have their own lives to worry about.
Another freeing perspective is knowing that people will always do what’s best for themselves. Therefore, when making decisions it’s best to filter opinions and do what’s best according to what God wants you to do.
We serve an audience of One but what’s challenging about leading any type of organization, cohort, or community, is that you also serve an audience. On top of that you feel like you’re on an island! So catch this: it’s important to seek Godly counsel and wisdom from others because we do value others’ opinions and feedback. I have found this to be one of the main ways the Holy Spirit works in a united group of believers. However, you then have to step back and make sure you’re truly listening to God’s voice above all others (by the way, Godly counsel will always advise this no matter what).
Leave a Reply