When the Spiritual Market Crashes

In partnership with

Dear Missionaryish Family,

Before we get started on today's article, I want to thank everyone who responded to our poll! The overwhelming majority told us to keep the newsletters at 2 per month. We'll continue to maintain this rhythm.

And for those who want more content, we will provide a special segmentation just for you. We'll let you know when those become available. Thank you all again for supporting us in this season!

Ok lets start.

I've been thinking deeply about financial investing and how it practically sheds some insight on the spiritual world. The stock market serves as a wonderful metaphor for the human condition, where people's spiritual journeys mirror the dramatic ups and downs of trading. In the financial world, savvy investors know the best time to buy is during a market selloff, when quality stocks are undervalued due to temporary chaos. It becomes oversold and craters. Or they know some special truth about the company that no one else knows creating for them an edge for years to come. The spiritual equivalent is just as profound: the best time to invest in someone’s life is during their personal “selloff”—moments of crisis, doubt, or transition when their hearts are open to deeper conversations about faith, purpose, and God’s love. I would argue that people are ready for honest conversation when they've looked at every possible solution to their problems and repeatedly come up empty. However their journey has unfolded, God has brought them to a place where they're ready to engage with the hard stuff—even if it's just a kernel of honesty, meaning they're ready to be rescued, ready to surrender. Remember, it's the faith the size of a mustard seed that moves mountains, not some cosmic astroid. From a Reformed theological perspective, this has been God's work all along, allowing mishaps, highs, and lows to flow through their lives.

The Spiritual Market: Bullish and Bearish Seasons

In the stock market, a “bullish” phase is marked by confidence, growth, and optimism—stocks soar, and everyone feels invincible. In life, we all know people in bullish seasons: thriving in their careers, relationships, or personal achievements, brimming with self-assurance. During these times, they’re often less open to spiritual conversations.

Satan loves these moments, blinding people with pride to keep them from seeing their need for God, much like unethical traders who manipulate a market bubble to set up a bigger crash so they can buy back even cheaper.

Conversely, a “selloff” in life looks like a personal crisis—divorce, loss, failure, or an existential questioning of purpose. These are the moments when the bullish veneer fades, and people become more receptive to deeper truths. Ecclesiastes 3:7 (CSB) reminds us there’s “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” The selloff is often the time to speak, when hearts are primed for connection, even if they seem guarded at first. But here’s the catch: if we don’t invest in these moments, Satan will. As 1 Peter 5:8 (CSB) says,

“Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” He targets these selloffs, offering false comforts—addiction, bitterness, or worldly ideologies—to groom people away from God.

The Double Loss of Inaction

If we don’t “trade for good” by sharing God’s love and truth when someone’s heart is open, we risk a double loss. First, we miss the opportunity to fulfill our calling to shine God’s light, as Matthew 5:16 (CSB) urges: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” This inaction can leave us with regret or spiritual stagnation, like passing on a quality stock during a dip. Man, we were so close! Why didn’t I just go for it?

Second, and even more sobering, the person misses out on the hope and truth that could lead them to God. James 4:17 (CSB) puts it bluntly: “It is sin to know the good and not do it.” If we don’t act, Satan steps in, exploiting their vulnerability with lies disguised as light (2 Corinthians 11:14, CSB).

This dynamic is especially stark in the selloff phase. When someone’s life is in turmoil—say, after a breakup or career setback—they’re grappling with big questions: “What’s the point?” or “Why is this happening?” These are the spiritual “discounts” where a kind word, a shared scripture, or a listening ear can plant a seed for God’s kingdom. The loss is ours for not acting and theirs for missing God’s hope. While we’re messing up our trades for the day, Satan is ready.

• In the selloff phase, he shorts the market, betting on people's collapse by exploiting their pain, doubt, or desperation, grooming them with temptations or lies to deepen their spiritual decline.

• In the bullish phase, he inflates the bubble, fueling pride and self-reliance to blind people to their need for God, setting them up for a harder crash. Oh yess… its much much much worst than Enron.

• Post-bullish crash: When the bullish phase fades and the selloff hits, Satan "buys the dip," investing in their vulnerability by offering false solutions or distractions to groom them further from God. He usually gets them addicted to something.

Even in bullish times, inaction has consequences. When someone’s riding high, their pride can blind them, as Obadiah 1:3 (CSB) describes: “Your arrogant heart has deceived you.” Satan fuels this self-sufficiency, setting them up for a harder fall later. If we don’t plant subtle seeds of truth or love during these moments, we miss the chance to prepare their heart for future openness, leaving Satan unchallenged in his deception. Again, this is happening in the backdrop of God's sovereignty—let's not lose hope yet. Satan is very intelligent and powerful, but he's not our God.

Trading for Good: How to Invest Wisely

So, how do we trade for good and avoid this double loss? It starts with discernment, patience, readiness, and, above all, prayer, much like a trader analyzing candlestick charts for the right moment to invest. Again, I do want to temper all that is said so far and say that prayer is necessary as we discern whether an opportunity is truly for us. As Christians, we must do the fundamental research before jumping into every "opportunity." Here’s how we can apply this spiritually, with biblical guidance:

1. Seek God in Prayer (Foundation)

   Above all, we must seek God in prayer, inviting His guidance and power into every spiritual investment. Unlike the stock market, where outcomes are beyond our control, prayer allows us to partner with God to cosmically shift the trajectory of someone’s life. James 5:16 (CSB) declares, “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” When we pray, we align our hearts with God’s, asking Him to soften hearts, disarm demonic influences, and break strongholds. Prayer grounds us in gospel humility, reminding us of our own redemption to guard against pride and anchoring us in hope to avoid despair if our efforts seem fruitless. A person under spiritual oppression can be loosened from Satan’s grip through fervent prayer, preparing them for your words of truth. We also need abundant wisdom in these situations. It's important to recognize that when someone experiences a downturn in life, their situation may continue to deteriorate before improving. Prayer guides our discernment about which opportunities to pursue, especially since our capacity to invest in others is limited.

2. Watch for the Turnaround (Discernment)

   Just as traders look for candlestick patterns signaling a stock’s recovery, we should look for signs of spiritual openness—questions about life’s meaning, shared struggles, or curiosity about faith. Colossians 4:5-6 (CSB) advises, “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” Don’t force conversations in bullish times when pride blocks ears, but be ready when the selloff hits. A friend who’s usually confident but now doubts their purpose after a job loss? That’s your signal to gently share hope.

3. Offer Value, Not Pressure (Gentleness)

   In a market selloff, wise investors buy thoughtfully, not aggressively. Similarly, spiritual conversations should be empathetic and authentic, not dogmatic. Proverbs 25:11 (CSB) says, “A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.” Listen more than you speak, let their questions guide you, and offer God’s love as a lifeline, not a sales pitch. This blocks Satan’s attempts to offer counterfeit solutions. Ask if they would like to be prayed for.

4. Plant Seeds for the Long Term (Patience)

   Spiritual investments don’t always yield immediate results, just like stocks take time to recover. Galatians 6:9 (CSB) encourages, “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” A single conversation, even if it seems fruitless, can plant a seed that grows over years—maybe even beyond our lifetime. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see the harvest; trust God’s timing. It's really ok if we die and never see the fruit on this side of eternity.

5. Stay Armed Against Satan’s Schemes (Vigilance)

   Satan is a cunning trader, always ready to exploit both bullish pride and selloff vulnerability. Look at his many human servants—Epstein, Weinstein, Mao, and the number of fallen spiritual leaders. But here's the sobering truth: we are just as susceptible to becoming pawns as they were. Ephesians 6:11 (CSB) equips us: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” Prayer, scripture, repentance, fasting, and community keep us vigilant, ensuring we don’t miss opportunities or leave room for Satan to trade for evil.

Our Bearish Seasons

Now we also have to acknowledge that it is indeed difficult to invest when the market is failing and becomes bearish. If this person you are trying to love is having their selloff moment, there is a possibility that you too are going through a selloff moment and so resources are tight. You also want to panic sell and just recoup what you can because after all, we share this broken world with everyone. The market has tanked and there's nothing worse than making purchases when you feel so finite and limited—less money, less resources, less motivation, and full of anxiety.

How do we invest when we have so little?

We trust God.

I think it's worthy to look once again to the story of the poor widow versus the Pharisees to see that it's not the amount that matters, but rather the heart of abandonment that a person has in giving themselves. And of course, this threshold is different for everyone. There is no formula, so each must answer to what they are convicted laying before God. At the end of the day, we need God to help us.

The Foundation of Spiritual Investment

As Christians, the “fundamentals” of spiritual investment are simple yet profound: believe that Jesus is Lord, be able to give a reason for the hope that you have, and invite others to join you in that truth. Yep..that's it. No complex apologetics or theological degrees are needed—just a genuine faith that Christ died for us so we might live (John 3:16, CSB). The “technical analysis” is trickier: reading the trend lines of people’s lives to know when they’re ready. The Holy Spirit helps us discern this. This isn’t about taking advantage of vulnerability to proselytize, but about being medics on the battlefield, bringing the wounded to the true Physician, Jesus. As Isaiah 50:4 (CSB) says, God gives us “the tongue of those who are instructed to know how to sustain the weary with a word.”

With all this said about our responsibility, we must remember: God is ultimately in control of our investing. Our job is to obey—not to guarantee the outcome. Even if we fail in this endeavor, we can still have confidence that God will finish the work He began in us and in others. The Gospel is eternally bullish. In God’s economy, it will always trend up into eternity no matter how deep the loss is today.

A Call to Action

Friends, the spiritual market is always moving, and every moment of openness is an opportunity. If we don’t invest for good—sharing God’s love, truth, and hope—Satan and his minions will invest for evil, leading to a loss for both us and those we care about. Proverbs 24:11-12 (CSB) challenges us: “Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.” Don’t let fear or hesitation stop you from acting when you see a heart ready to hear. Whether it’s a friend in crisis, a reader questioning their purpose, or even someone in a bullish phase who might hear a subtle word of truth, step in with love and wisdom, grounded in prayer.

I don’t understand why God allows Satan to operate as he does, but I trust His character to turn even the worst situations for good (Romans 8:28, CSB). Our job isn’t to dwell on the why, but to act faithfully, praying fervently and investing in souls when the time is right. So, let’s be wise investors, starting with prayer to align our hearts with God’s, watching for the selloff moments, planting seeds with patience, and shining God’s light to block Satan’s darkness. Together, we can make a difference, one conversation at a time. The gospel cannot fail. God is with us when we love as Christ has.

Let’s go love our neighbors.

Much Love in Christ,

David & Reagan

Prayers

• Focus and Discipline in School: Continued prayer for this as this week as I’m still playing catch up with school and even taxes.

• Recovery from Sickness: Thank you for praying! Reagan is a lot better and little Levi just got some oral surgery for his tongue tie. We discovered that he was losing weight because he wasn’t able to latch very well.

• Boys are starting school: Judah and Ezra started school this week and they are enjoying it. Thank you for your prayers!

• Missionaryish Deployment Team: We're in the preliminary stages of putting together a team that is separate from our governance board. This team will help raise awareness about Missionaryish's work. Please pray that God brings the right individuals together for this effort. If you're interested in exploring this opportunity with us, email us at [email protected] or text me at 619-940-5391.

• Financial Goals: Praise for God for reaching 69% of our living expenses goal for this year for 2025. Pray that we meet our full living expenses goal next year and progress toward operational funding for the ministry.

Finally, a powerful CRM—made simple.

Attio is the AI-native CRM built to scale your company from seed stage to category leader. Powerful, flexible, and intuitive to use, Attio is the CRM for the next-generation of teams.

Sync your email and calendar, and Attio instantly builds your CRM—enriching every company, contact, and interaction with actionable insights in seconds.

With Attio, AI isn’t just a feature—it’s the foundation.

• Instantly find and route leads with research agents

• Get real-time AI insights during customer conversations

• Build AI automations for your most complex workflows

• Join fast growing teams like Flatfile, Replicate, Modal, and more.

Start for free today.