Yo-Yo

Did you have a yo-yo as a kid? I’m sure most of us had one or at least saw one being used; therefore, we know how they work and their purpose. I always wanted to get better at using it. I could only yo-yo a couple of times before I lost it. I’ve seen people do all kinds of tricks – like walking it, going around the world and more. Needless to say, I gave up and retired from the yo-yo. But often life can be a Yo-yo. Have you been there?

No matter the demographic, everyone experiences the feeling of being yo-yoed up and down emotionally, relationally and spiritually. It can be tough to navigate these times in our lives and choose to seek purpose and meaning. Life doesn’t ask permission to visit our house, and it doesn’t show partiality either. No one is exempt. The tug and pull of being up and down seems to wait for us, and the effects are different. Yes, we all have experienced the Yo-yo, yet I’ve also felt God show up in amazing ways during these times.

Our challenge is to get closer to God in these moments and seasons.

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

John 14:1-2

Notice Jesus speaks to the propensity of being troubled from the Yo-yo of life, yet He says don’t be! How powerful and difficult at the same time, since we have so many emotions that flood us when we are up or down. These emotions can be polar opposites, leading us from one extreme to the other. Our thoughts race from believing to not believing, from trusting to doubting, sometimes in the same day. Have you been there? However, Jesus is present with us, and He holds the string of the Yo-yo so that no matter how high or low you go, we are in His hand! We are in His love, and nothing can separate us from His grip!

We must remember that the Yo-yo must bow before God and the promise of eternity. This is what Jesus was saying in these verses. He is preparing for us a place in heaven, so don’t be troubled with the temporary Yo-yo. We are His forever; therefore, He brings us through all of our stuff! There is nothing too hard for God. There is nothing so big that He isn’t taller. He is the great I Am, the Beginning and the End, and nothing is beyond His knowledge or ability. Our present Yo-yo is an opportunity either to glory in His blessings or to worship Him in the darkness of life. He is great and greatly to be praised in all circumstances!

We get to choose our perspective.

It’s easy to let the Yo-yo lead us into bitterness, distrust, anger and resentment, which takes us away from God. We all feel these temptations, but we must be sober and vigilant. Our enemy wants to corrupt our hearts with the ups and downs of life, but everyone around the world faces the same thing. We are not alone. This is so important, because we tend to believe we are the only ones going through this. We like to think, “No one understands me,” but these are lies that isolate us from community and from Christ. Our strength is in God, and He works through relationships, so we must link up with others when we are up and when we are down. The Yo-yo will win if we isolate, but the Yo-yo will lose when we unite with others. It will lose its power to control or manipulate our actions and emotions because we know where we are going and who we belong to.

Where are you today? Are you up or down? No matter the place on the Yo-yo, our God is greater. Something good is coming your way today. Here are two quick steps to take:

First, give God praise no matter what. Don’t wait till it’s all good. Decide to praise Him in all circumstances. He is the source of our lives. There is power when you praise the Lord, and He dwells in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3).

Second, connect to others. We mature in our faith when we practice it with others. We must unite in relationships when we are up or down. It doesn’t matter which you are right now, because we are to carry each other’s burdens. There is protection in community and we overcome together (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

I encourage you to love life, have fun and conquer the Yo-yo. Know that Jesus is with us right now, and He is coming for us. His promise is sure and His preparation is great on our behalf. The best is ahead, so whether we are up or down, His plan will come to pass. All of it can lead us closer to Him and to our healing.

Have a great week, and may the Lord bless you more and more!

-Pastor David