We are called to something higher

“If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, 'My foot slips,' your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.”

Psalm 94:17-18

Brothers,

As I look back on this past year, I’m struck by how deeply it tested me and our family. Our family walked through a couple of painful losses, one unexpected and tragic. My body faced injuries that forced me to slow down. A core relationship has become painfully strained and contentious. My career shifted in ways I never would have predicted. It felt like wave after wave kept rolling in, each one threatening to knock me off balance. But through every moment, God proved Himself faithful.

Psalm 94:17-18 reminds us, “If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, 'My foot slips,' your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.”

That truth hits home this year. If the Lord had not been my help, grief would have swallowed me, discouragement would’ve set in, and passivity would’ve sounded easier than perseverance.

But biblical manhood calls us to something higher.

In the midst of difficulty, we reject passivity, choosing not to shrink back from pain or responsibility. We accept responsibility, owning our formation, our families, our decisions, and our spiritual growth even when life feels chaotic. We lead courageously, not from bravado but from dependence on the God who rises up on our behalf. And we invest eternally, remembering that our trials, and our obedience through them, shape a legacy that outlives our present circumstances.

The MD5 framework has become a lifeline for me in this season. It gave me structure and direction when I felt scattered, clarity when I felt overwhelmed, and a brotherhood that refused to let me drift into isolation. God used it to steady my steps and remind me who I’m called to be.

Men, whatever this year has demanded or taken from you, remain steadfast. Keep your heart anchored in the Lord. Lean into community and brotherhood. Stand firm in faith, and walk in the kind of manhood that reflects not the culture, but Christ.

Grace and strength to you this week.

Russell Dorsey

MD5 Facilitator