Photo Courtesy of Riccardo Mion
After the meet this weekend, I realized that a gymnastic competition is just a trial and test to evaluate the training habits of the gymnasts. As I looked at this test, one thing became clear: gymnasts who had been impatient and worried during practice exhibited greater frustration, anxiety and disappoint- ment at the competition than those gymnasts who had submitted to coaches’ directions, assignments and corrections.
Every day we face many trials. The world accosts us with evil, sorrow comes our way, friends are burdened or we are suffering with heartache. If we respond to our trials with impatience and worry, that will lead to greater frustration, anxiety and suffering. Our hearts become heavy with burdens and restlessness. We have no peace; our minds fill with thoughts of hopelessness and our soul despairs. We crumble under the pressure of the trial.
However, if we respond to the trials with patience and prayer, God empowers us with His Holy Spirit to endure the trails we face. With the aid of the Spirit our minds calm and fill with the hope of Christ. As Christ dominates our thoughts our hearts find His peace, and our souls rest in the assurance that Jesus walks through our trials with us. Through our trial and testing, Jesus guides us, sustains us and strengthens our faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christ will “strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials” (1 Thessalonians 3:2-3).
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
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My grandson is in jail with mental illness. We suffer too. Pray that we learn not to be frustrated and put our hope in the Lord. Let not our hearts be troubled.