Ready
“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” — Romans 12:12
Set
Adversity is a normal part of sports. Every athlete faces adversity from time to time. It can last for a short time. You adjust and you get through it. Or it can last for a long time, seemingly never to stop. You may not even understand why it is happening to you. Often, adversity seems unfair.
However, adversity can actually be a good thing. As an athlete, if you approach adversity with a proper attitude, knowing that by displaying grit and hanging in there, it will bring a higher level of skill and a greater degree of maturity. Approaching adversity with the proper attitude equips you to handle the next tough situation better.
Facing adversity is a lot like lifting weights and working out. You need proper form. You need to increase intensity, increase weight and repetitions to get stronger. It always takes time. You must keep after it, not letting up, nor backing down. As you stay at it you begin to see the changes and the increased strength.
Jesus faced extreme adversity of the worst kind. He endured death on a cross, endured the mocking of others and He knew it was all coming. But even in His greatest trial, just before He was taken away and crucified, He prayed and asked God for help. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). With Jesus as our example, when we are faced with adversity we should pray and ask God to help us, and to seek His will, not our own.
Let’s use Jesus as our example. Seek the Lord’s help and His will in times of adversity and stick with Him through it. Much like building muscles through being consistent in the weight room, when we go through adversity, we can handle it with God’s help. We can hang in there and not give up with God’s help.
Go
Adversity can be helpful for our development. Think back to a time of adversity, what did you learn from it? How did you get stronger as a person in it?
Do you have a friend, a trusted advisor or a person who can help you through adversity?
Workout
Overtime
“Dear Jesus, thank You for showing us the best way to handle adversity. I ask You to help me as I face adversity and hardships. Give me strength and courage to hang in there and not get weary and quit. Help me gain all that’s possible in it. I trust You. Amen.”