No Looking Back

Hey Family,

I wanted to share something with you really quickly for this Monday that I believe will be motivating and encouraging for your week, and maybe even help you finish your year strong. While you can apply this to the work we get to do here together, I also believe that if we truly lean into it, we can see growth in any area of our life.

Luke 9:57-62

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

I wanted to share this scripture because I believe there is something special here about what it means to build something brand new, especially as a team. The reflection Jesus was giving is that going toward something, establishing something, and building something is not as simple as just saying, “I am willing to go.” It requires clarity, commitment, and focus.

Your yes becomes a priority

First notice, your “yes” becomes a priority. Saying yes to the work God calls you to may make you feel isolated or outside of your usual spaces. Yet commitment and consecration do not equal isolation; they reaffirm community. They push you to look beyond simple proximity and lean into intentionality.

You cannot wait on those who stopped

Next thought, you cannot wait on those who are not moving forward. Do not allow the apathy of others to slow down your progress. Your momentum can be severely obstructed if you stop to tend those who have chosen to stop. It is not that you are unwilling to encourage or motivate them, but the question becomes: will you pause your progress to try and change their process?

Hand to the plow

Lastly, the scripture concludes that those who put their hand to the plow and then look back are not fit for the Kingdom. All building work is Kingdom work. We do everything to the glory of God. So if we revert, reverse, or return, we have to ask ourselves: are we really ready and in shape for this building season?

Here is the great news: fitness can be built. Just like working out in the gym, you can strengthen your endurance in every area. There are three things I want you to take away and practice this week:

1. Spiritual endurance. Build it through worship and private time with God. This will become your source for healthy spiritual fitness.

2. Physical endurance. Develop it through practical planning, self-management, and accountability. These tools help you carry the work with consistency.

3. Mental endurance. Strengthen it with journaling, mentors, leaders, and therapists who can help you pace yourself and process along the way.

We are on this journey together. And I refuse to resource you in only one way when God has called us to grow in all three. Allow me to be present, to serve you, and to push you forward in every way I can.