This past week a student brought me the BEST note a coach could ever ask for.
I found it very humorous that the cover was so fru-fru and didn't prepare me at all for what was inside. Anyone who has ever coached before has to agree that this is a HUGE compliment! Think about it, I am training these 1st through 4th grade girls to run a 5K. I run them every PE class for at least 15 minutes. Most of them whine the entire time! Now before you make judgments, I only have them run 3 minutes at a time and then we walk in between sets. However, most of the 3 minutes I spend saying, "come on girls" , "you can do it", "think of how much healthier and stronger you are getting" because they act as if I am asking them to run a marathon! But this girl, Marie, is thankful, and even joyful for what I am putting her through even when she wants to puke!
That got me thinking about our spiritual walk and the trials that are put in our paths. Can we say we are like Marie in that case? Are we thankful and joyful even on days that we want to puke, or throw in the towel? Check out these verses from James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Marie gets that if she works hard, even when she doesn't want to, she will become a better runner. But do we get that the trials that we go through on a daily basis are maturing us and making us stronger Christians? It is easy to say that we get it, but do we really? Do we really trust God's in control and He is putting us through hard times in order to grow us, or do we get frustrated with Him for continuing to work on us?
As for the joyful part, read what 1 Peter 4:12-13 says:
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Think about how awesome Marie is gonna feel when she goes out and runs a 5K and realizes her hard work and sweat has paid off! I always tell my girls, "if running was easy, everyone would do it". I think the same goes for being a Christian. It's not an easy path. It's full of challenges...it takes dedication and lots of patience, which our world does not embrace. However, you my friend have chosen to be part of something BIG! And it should fill your heart with joy to think of what the outcome is going to be! Hard work? Sweat? Tears? Trials? Yes! But if it were easy, everyone would do it!
As you go through your week I hope that you will not only expect the trials that God puts before you, but that you will embrace them. Be encouraged that God is right by your side and is wanting you to come to Him for guidence, just like a coach would be. He is the best coach you could ask for, and unlike any other coach you have ever had, he knows ALL of the plays and how to execute them. Ask Him for direction this week and see if you can love the trials of your Chirstian walk as much as Marie loves PE!
