Whenever you hear players being interviewed after a big win, you will always hear the usual: “We all knew how much of a struggle it would be, but we believed and came together and overcame the challenges.” There is truth to this for sure, but I would venture to say that Tom Brady had some unique challenges as well. I’m sure he had to deal with doubting voices in his head saying: “Will my body handle this again?” “I’ve had a good run. Maybe my time’s over?” Or maybe simply: “Do I think I can really still do this?” Even highly successful NFL quarterbacks like Tom Brady have doubts. They are no different than you or me in this regard. We all have them, and we all have to figure out ways to navigate them. The same is true in our spiritual lives too.
One of my more recent favourite authors has described the overcoming of spiritual challenges to move toward growth like this: “The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials.”
I have come to a place where I believe the best answers to life come from a place of belief in the Christian God who came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. He came to show a way of life that leads to freedom in Him. But to live this life is not to live as a push-over. Quite the opposite, really. To follow Jesus requires the kind of faith that is strong, and strong faith is the kind that is built through great trials that test that faith daily.
You know that life is hard. It can blindside you, and sometimes often. It’s possible that you have learned that faith in Jesus is for people who are weak and want to hide from reality. But I want to say to you that from my own experience, and from watching people who have great faith in Jesus, this has come through immense struggle and trials. And this kind of faith is the kind that proves itself to make a real difference in real life. My hope is that you will soon discover this faith too. It makes all the difference in the world.
Pastor Brian Tysdal, Strasbourg Alliance Church
Comment on this at lmtimes.ca/minister
Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.
