Practice to Perform

“but he said to me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

After my eldest son enlisted to become a Marine, I watched videos of recruits at boot camp.  I was horrified watching drill instructors running around screaming like crazed lunatics.  They would gang up three Drill Instructors to one young recruit, screaming and yelling at him as he was trying to tie his shoe, do a push up, make a bed or answer a question.  I was bothered and confused as to why they had to create such a chaotic environment and put these recruits under such mental and emotional stress.  It seemed fruitless to me and I was angry that my son would endure that training.   Then God reminded me of how I train my athletes.  I teach them to practice how they want to perform. We drill to simulate a fighting situation so when they encounter it in competition, they can react properly. Immediately my thoughts migrated to the day when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the sudden chaos that those young men and women were thrust into as they were taken by surprise.  Then the epiphany came; by simulating an intensely difficult situations in boot camp, they are training these men to learn how to maintain focus and make quick decisions under extreme pressure and duress.  The struggles they were putting these Marine recruits through were necessary and important for their growth, change and ultimate ability to function properly if or when they are ever put difficult situation. I began to appreciate the process rather than despise it.  I look at the trials of life as a boot camp for spiritual training.  I have to continually practice how I want to perform, turning to Jesus for the power to get through difficult times rather than trying to power through alone.  It is not always easy giving up control and learning to trust, but the more I practice the easier it gets and the weaker I am, the stronger I am through His power.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy.  During difficult times, help us to remember that we do not have to power through them alone and that you will give us the strength we need through your Son, Jesus Christ.