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UNDERDOG

I LOVE A GOOD UNDERDOG STORY.

UNDERDOG STORIES USUALLY BEGIN WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T AS NATURALLY TALENTED AS THEIR PEERS. THEY OFTEN FACE DISAPPOINTMENT, DISCOURAGEMENT, AND SETBACKS. THEY GET OVERLOOKED AND COUNTED OUT.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE UNDERDOGS "HARD-WORK-BEATS-TALENT-WHEN-TALENT-DOESN'T-WORK-HARD" THEY OFTEN GIVE A SPEECH WHILE HOLDING A TROPHY, AWARD, OR PRIZE THAT CONSISTS OF:

  • STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
  • STARTED WITH NOTHING
  • THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN ME

...BUT I:

  • KEPT GOING
  • DIDN'T GIVE UP
  • WORKED HARDER

..AND NOW I'M HERE.

THE TROPHY, AWARD AND PRIZE IS ACTUALLY SWEET BECAUSE OF THEIR TRIALS - NOT IN SPITE OF THEIR TRIALS.

SOMETHING SIMILAR IS HAPPENING IN 1 PETER 1:6-7.

1 PETER 1:6-7

THIS IS HOW PETER PHRASES IT:

"6 IN THIS YOU REJOICE, THOUGH NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IF NECESSARY, YOU HAVE BEEN GRIEVED BY VARIOUS TRIALS, 7 SO THAT THE TESTED GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH—MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD THAT PERISHES THOUGH IT IS TESTED BY FIRE—MAY BE FOUND TO RESULT IN PRAISE AND GLORY AND HONOR AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST."

PETER CALLS THE CHURCHES TO REJOICE (LIVE WITH JOY, THANKS, AND AN UPWARD DISPOSTION) BECAUSE OF THEIR TRIALS.

WHY?

BECAUSE THEIR TRIALS PRODUCE FAITH AND FAITH LEADS TO A FULL LIFE (AND THE LACK OF FAITH LEADS TO AN EMPTY LIFE).

PETER'S BUDDY JAMES SAYS IT THIS WAY IN JAMES 1:2-4:

2 CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,[A] WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, 3 BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. 4 LET PERSEVERANCE FINISH ITS WORK SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATUREAND COMPLETE, NOT LACKING ANYTHING.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE EARLIEST DISCIPLES WERE IN AGREEMENT: TRIALS --> FAITH --> FULLNESS.

EMBRACE YOUR SEASON

NO SEASON IS THE SAME, AND THE ONLY GUARANTEE IN LIFE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE SEASONS.

  • SEASONS OF FUN AND SEASONS OF HARD WORK
  • SEASONS OF REST AND SEASONS OF SLEEP-DEPRAVITY
  • SEASONS OF ABUNDANCE AND SEASONS OF FRUGALITY
  • SEASONS OF EASE AND SEASONS OF TRIALS

THE ENCOURAGMENET FROM SCRIPTURE IS TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, AND ALSO TO THANK GOD WHEN THINGS ARE DIFFICULT, BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY THE DIFFICULT SEASONS THAT SHAPE AND FORM US INTO MATURE, FULL PEOPLE.

WITHOUT THIS SHAPING WE REMAIN IMMATURE, EMPTY PEOPLE - LACKING THE KIND OF INTERNAL LIFE THAT FILLS OUR EXTERNAL LIFE.

ARE YOU IN A TRIAL? EMBRACE IT.

ARE YOU IN A DIFFICULTY? LET IT SHAPE YOU.

ARE YOU IN TRIBULATION? HOLD ON.

LET THESE SEASONS SHAPE, PRODUCE, AND FORM FAITH IN YOU THAT YOU MIGHT BECOME MATURE AND FULL.