I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

If you sat in our living room, among other things, you would be able to see two separately framed photographs that happen to have golf themes. Whether you are an avid golfer or know nothing about the game, you would notice a profound contrast between the scenes in each picture. May this message encourage us to see beyond those differences and inspire a confident resolve to take on the inevitable challenges each of us will face this week. Here we go…

The first photo is a gorgeous shot of the par three 16th hole at Augusta National Golf Club, one of the most exclusive courses in the world and the home of the prestigious Master’s Golf Tournament. It has been said that a ticket to the Master’s Golf Tournament is the most difficult to acquire in all of sports. Though this first picture is a dream or fantasy to observe, the chances of any of us ever playing on this exclusive course are highly unlikely.
The second photo has a title that says, “Overcoming Adversity.” The action shot focuses on a ball being blasted out of a sand trap. Here is a place no golfer wants to be, yet all golfers find themselves at some point. When it happens, coming out of the trap successfully is what all golfers seek. Words are also written below the scene: “Through adversity God reminds us to give Him control of our lives.” This second picture is far more humbling in its reminder of how life’s challenges are not some fantasy, but real and inevitable to all of us.

We know that Jesus Christ never played golf, but we also know the stance He took during perhaps His greatest challenge. When He was about to be crucified and found Himself in the trap of having to die on the cross for our sins, He fell on His face and prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou will” (Matt 26:39).

Let’s play our round of life this week with our best effort. In the midst of it all, there will be some testing situations that will surely come our way. If we let God direct our “course,” then when that adversity comes, we’ll have the confidence of a godly player. If trapped this week, be encouraged to overcome adversity by modeling how our Lord responded. Let’s know when to give God, our Father, control of our life this week. Let’s depend upon Him through praying and faith in saying, “Lord, not my will but Thy will be done.”

Keep your head up, and have a great week!

2 Cor 2:14; Col 3:2; Eph 1:10