Your daily Olympic devotional
A snippet from a new sports devotional, The Spirit of Victory. Available through your favourite bookstore.
The upside of down days - James 1:2-4
Kim Brennan was a young athlete with plenty of potential and a dream to compete in the Olympic Games. Leading up to the 2004 Olympics she was the second-fastest hurdler over 400 meters in Australia. Tragically, Brennan’s Olympic campaign was ended by injury. Because Brennan couldn’t run she kept fit by using a rowing machine. A rowing coach thought her technique was solid. Eventually, she was persuaded to try out rowing on the water.
After just 3 years of rowing, Brennan went to the 2008 Olympic games. She returned to the Olympics in 2012 winning a bronze and a silver medal. In 2016 she won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics and carried the flag for Australia at the closing ceremony.
Kim Brennan would have been devastated when her injuries ended her hurdling career but I wonder if she’s grateful that her adversity guided her towards rowing.
James chapter 1 encourages believers to see the upside of down days. He says that a trial is an opportunity for pure joy. Most people are happy when their trials are over; James wants believers to be joyful when they begin! Instead of throwing a pity party when times are tough, James wants you to throw an actual party and rejoice because your trials are going to achieve something good.
James says trials produce perseverance; difficult times force you to rely on God’s strength instead of your own. Trials tend to make people less self-reliant and more God-reliant.
As God helps you face each trial; remember His faithfulness. Next time you face a difficult test you’ll remember that God was faithful to you in the last challenge. This will give you confidence as you face challenges in the future.