Market volatility has a way of getting our attention.
When headlines grow louder and uncertainty seems to dominate the news, it is natural to feel uneasy about your retirement investments. For ministry leaders, that concern can feel even heavier. You are not just thinking about your own future; you are often carrying the needs of your family, your church, and the people God has called you to serve.
But in seasons like this, it is important to remember a simple truth: market volatility is not unusual. It is part of investing. Peter Lynch once said, “Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections or trying to anticipate corrections than has been lost in corrections themselves.” That is a helpful reminder because our instinct during market downturns is often to do something — to pull back, move to cash, stop retirement contributions, or wait until things feel safer.
But trying to time the market is nearly impossible to do consistently. The better approach is not timing the market, but time in the market. That doesn’t mean we ignore risk. It doesn’t mean we pretend losses are not uncomfortable. And it certainly does not mean every investor should have the same strategy. What it does mean is that we respond to volatility with wisdom instead of panic.
A thoughtful investment plan should be diversified, properly balanced, and aligned with your age, risk tolerance, income needs, and retirement goals. Diversification doesn’t eliminate risk, but it can help manage it. It keeps us from placing too much confidence in one company, one fund, one sector, or one moment in time.
This is one reason our LifeFunds can be such a helpful option for many Servant Solutions members. They are designed as diversified asset allocation solutions that adjust over time based on your birth year, gradually moving from a more growth-oriented allocation to a more conservative one as you approach and move through retirement. And for those who are especially concerned about stability, options like the Principal Guaranteed Option may provide a more conservative place for a portion of retirement savings, depending on your goals and needs.
Still, even with a thoughtful plan, volatility and stormy market conditions can leave many people concerned, and even fearful. You may feel at times like the waves are overtaking your boat. If so, you are not alone. In uncertain financial times, it’s easy to feel like we are being tossed around without an anchor. But let me offer this simple truth: Jesus is Lord over the winds and the sea. He is Lord over the stock market. He is Lord over economic policy. He is Lord over retirement decisions, health concerns, family struggles, and whatever else may be troubling you. He is Lord of all.
You may recall the moment in Scripture when the disciples were caught in a furious storm and watched Jesus calm the wind and waves. In awe, they asked, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
That doesn’t mean we will never face storms. It does not mean markets will never decline, or that uncertainty will disappear. But it does mean we don’t have to face those storms alone. We can make wise decisions, seek good counsel, remain disciplined, and still trust that Christ is present with us in the boat.
At Servant Solutions, we walk with our members in seasons of plenty and in seasons of concern. We are here to listen, to help, and to walk alongside you as you make decisions about your financial future. If you need someone to talk with about your financial journey, please reach out to us. That’s what we’re here for.
And if you feel like you can’t handle what might happen tomorrow, remember this: you are not meant to carry tomorrow’s burdens today. When that moment comes, God will provide the grace, strength, and wisdom you need. He always does. He always will.
He has not forgotten you. He is in the boat with you. And in due time, we will remember the same question the disciples asked: “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
He is our Savior. He is still Lord over the storm. He is Lord of all. And the hope we have in Jesus, my friends, is a sure and steadfast anchor for our souls.
Nate Bowers serves as the Director of Financial Education for Servant Solutions. He leads initiatives to engage new and current members, as well as ministry organizations, to address and meet their financial education needs. He also helps advance the organization’s financial planning efforts, offering professional and pastoral care to guide members. Nate holds an MBA and bachelor’s degree in Finance from Anderson University. Prior to his pastoral calling and ministry, Nate worked in corporate and small business finance, including positions at Lilly and Roche Diagnostics.