Perseverance And Growth
Monday February 10, 2014
PERSEVERANCE AND GROWTH
The Winter Olympics are in full swing. Remember four years ago when the Olympics came to Vancouver? What a fun time that was for those who visited or lived in Vancouver. So many families were in the streets. Millions watched the games on television. Locals visited the Olympic Torch downtown. Canadians were proud as our athletes gained gold medals both here and in Whistler. Many thousands crowded bars and watched on large screens, cheering loudly as the Canadian hockey team won the final game.
Athletes prepare all their lives to compete in these games and have this kind of success. They get up early morning after morning and work very hard. They exercise and practice their game skills over and over again. Hour after hour, day after day, and week after week they do the same drills so they can make every small move count and do it all in the shortest amount of time. Olympic athletes teach us about perseverance -- doing the right thing for a long time for a successful result.
God's word encourages us to live in the same way if we want to develop character and live a blessed and satisfying life. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)
God knows that, just like athletes in their training process, we sometimes get tired. Sometimes we face many problems and we get frustrated. At other times people will criticize us even though we are trying our best. Discouragement begins to set in and defeat raises its ugly head. God wants us to remember that every test is a chance for us to grow and as we grow, we become stronger, more filled with joy, and more skilled at all we do.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4 NLT)
God knows it's hard to keep on going but He promises to be with us, to give us strength, and to give us all we need. Our part is not to give up. Our part is to try again. Our part is to ask God for help and trust Him to help us. God knows our hearts. God knows about our troubles and He cares about those things that concern us. Let’s ask God for strength and help to face today’s challenges and step by step become as successful in life as Olympic athletes are in their sport of choice.
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