Bend or Break: A Better Way

Have you ever had a breaking season? One in which you are striving to create a life of peace, prosperity and purpose, but the ingredients you are given smack of challenge and hardship?

You may be doing all the ‘right’ things, but the results are less than ideal. These periods in life can leave us feeling frustrated and hopeless. It may be easy to assume that God is not paying attention and that He is not for us. If left to ourselves, we may unintentionally allow the circumstances to break us. I’ve found myself there many times this year, but I am learning that there is a better way.

The Market Shift

The 2024 real estate market was good to me. Although only working part time in the industry, I was blessed to close nine transactions. Each transaction was different, but they were all relatively smooth and pleasurable. At the close of the year I definitely felt confident that I was on the right path. Circumstantially it appeared that God’s will for me was real estate. I felt secure in the fact that after the 2025 school year, I’d have no problem taking the step into full time real estate.

But as ‘luck’ would have it, the 2025 real estate market had different plans for me. We are currently six months in and I am not where I want to be as far as closed transactions. Through no fault of my own, I have experienced one sale to fall through. I have had other clients decide that they are not ready to buy. I’ve had challenge after challenge and it would be rational to believe that my natural circumstances indicate that God is no longer for me.

I’ll be honest and admit that the thoughts of playing it safe and staying in the school system have echoed through my mind. My normal response would be to give up on real estate and choose the easier path. It’s more comfortable to play it safe. Risk feels vulnerable. I don’t want to fail.

Bend or Break

At the end of the day, however, I’ve determined that whether it be education or real estate, I only want what God has for me. In seeking Him on this very thing, I have felt Him give me two options…

Bend or Break

Psalm 32:8-9 says this,‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.’

I find such comfort in His promise to instruct, teach and counsel me in the way I should go. Life is multi-faceted and each choice we make will have a ripple effect on those around us. I’m grateful that He doesn’t just point out the path, but teaches us as He directs us. The picture is of a loving Father, walking with His child, showing him the way, advising of the pitfalls and risks. It’s an image of protection, provision and purpose. It feels healthy and secure.

The verse says nothing of the landscape being without challenge or hardship, but rather the focus is the fact that God Himself is leading the way. In that, we can trust that no matter what terrain we face, He will show us how to navigate it. As He leads, we bend to His will and His way.

The World’s Way vs. God’s Way

In contrast, the world tells us to do it our way.If it’s hard, quit.If the relationship becomes less than ideal, bail.If the new job begins to lack luster, it’s probably them, not you.

The theme these days is control. Frank Sinatra prophesied way back in 1969. “I’ll do it my way” is the anthem of this age. Thus we have become a self-absorbed, reactive society. We minor on understanding but major on impulse. We act until the stress becomes too much and we break.

Life is too precious and time is too limited. I don’t want to break. I have chosen to bend.

What Bending Looks Like

Bending means that when faced by adversity, I ask God to share His perspective on my current state of affairs:

2025 may look like less transactions in the natural, but that doesn’t define the value of the year as a whole. I have learned more about the business. I have grown as an agent. My resolve has been strengthened because I’ve allowed adverse circumstances to build me. The Lord has shown me that I cannot measure the worth of a year by closings alone. There is much more that He is doing now, to prepare me for what is to come.

Bending means that I follow His peace, not my emotions:

In the Old Testament, the Israelites followed God by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire through the night. We don’t have those natural elements to gauge His movement today, but we have something better. We have the Holy Spirit.

It is His peace and grace that sets us in motion. When I pray about my future as a realtor I am filled with peace. Even though it has been hard, there has been a supernatural covering of grace that has kept me. If left to myself, I would choose to follow my flesh and I would have broken months ago.

Bending means that I hold everything with an open hand:

Yes, I believe that real estate is exactly what He has for me in this season. I don’t necessarily see anything else on the horizon and I envision a business that will not only be a means for provision for our family, but one of ministry and generosity for my community.

That excites me and makes me so passionate about all that lies ahead. But in bending to His will and His way, I know that it all belongs to Him. I start each day with a prayer of surrender. My hands are open and if He wants to shift the script and alter the path, I have chosen to bend to that. I trust His will more than my dreams. I trust in His love for me. I know that ultimately whatever He has for me is for my best.

What About You?

As I write, I wonder about you.

Is there something in your life that you are fighting?A place where it would be tempting to break rather than have to bend?

My encouragement to you today would be to remember that there is no fear in bending.It may feel new and uncomfortable. I’ve been walking with the Lord for close to thirty years and am just beginning to adopt this thought as my daily choice.

But it is the better way.Bending to His way, His will.Not allowing stubbornness and resistance to break you.

Trusting that if He has called you to it, He will not only see you through it, but will walk with you every step of the way.

Let’s take that first step towards bending together and see where it takes us!