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Grit Before Gold
Tim Savage5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 3 John
I must continue to be faithful even when those that I serve may not know me, or appreciate me or even like me. If I ask God for strength and courage, I will not immediately be strong and courageous, instead, God will allow me to be in situations where I need to be strong so that I can build up my strength. But wait! That’s not what I asked for! I wanted strength so that I could overpower or step over those things that are obstacles and problem, I didn’t want to actually have to do the work required to gain strength. Or wouldn’t it just be so much easier if I quit, remove myself from the situation and avoid the problem all together? I saw a quote this morning from one of my Olympic heroes – grit before gold. As a sand volleyball player, Kerri Lee Walsh has spent many hours face down in the sand, covered in sweat, exhausted. It would have been so much easier to just call it quits and go home to her family, where she is loved and needed. But as she has stood on medal podiums over 2 consecutive Olympics, she would say that it’s all been worth it, the rewards were worth the sacrifice.
I must not despise the season that God has me in when my strength, courage and patience are being tested and built. Grit before gold. Wouldn’t it be eternally tragic to stand before God and hear Him say that I bailed out before I was supposed to, that I hadn’t been released from my calling but I left anyway? John is praising Gaius for staying the course, for forging on in the midst of challenges, even when he wasn’t appreciated he was faithful. So it must be for me. I often pray for strength and courage so when I’m given the chance to grow in those things I must stand firm and learn those lessons.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please grant me strength and courage, even though that may mean tough lessons for me. When faced with adversity I will look to You and listen for Your instruction and not look for the easy out. I must be faithful to fulfill Your call on my life.
In Jesus name,
Amen
