Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

My family have just completed a special government sponsored “holiday” at home. That is to say, we took a holiday in France so we’ve paid the price of 2 weeks quarantine, not leaving our home and living on top of each other. Of course, we were privileged to go abroad, and many Sheffield folk have been content with genuine ‘staycations’ in the UK or simply making the most of the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme.

We were already in France when friends started to text us the news with sad-face emojis. I had driven all of the 750 miles to get to the coast, but for me, the sunshine of France was still worth the price of the quarantine we would be returning to!

Sometimes life can feel like two steps forward, one step back.

Our holiday was on the west coast and my teenagers had never seen anything like the incredibly powerful Atlantic Ocean waves. The force of the breakers is so strong that you can barely remain standing when they crash upon you. It’s fantastic fun, and occasionally a bit frightening. My 10-year old son is strong and bullish but he wisely wouldn’t loose grip of my hand or risk being tossed around like a stone.

Each time a wave retreated we would make a mad dash to get further out, only to be rocked back on our heels by the next wave. It really was two steps forward, one step back.

Life in lockdown feels that way, doesn’t it? You make a little progress, only to lose ground elsewhere. As a Christian, the Bible tells me that I don’t need to face the waves of life alone, I can hold onto God, my heavenly Father’s hand.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.” (Ecclesiastes 4)

In steps forward and setbacks, may you and I hold onto God for help in the everyday.

Photo credit: Frank Mckenna on UnSplash