Strength Comes from the Struggle

It was more than compelling drama, as my friend Trey Lewis likes to say, it was another comeback story. And we all love comeback stories. This one however, played itself out on a national stage, and was watched by millions and cheered in person by thousands.

There was fist pumping, hard charging Tiger Woods in search of his first win in a very long time, having sunk from first to #10,387 on the world rating of golfers performances. This man who had fallen from public grace through marital infidelity, spinal back infusion surgery, prescription drug addiction, DUI and never thinking he could swing a golf club again, was making a surge and the crowds watching were cheering wildly.

He had just struggled a short time ago in even being able to play with his kids, but on this day, the last day of the prestigious PGA Championship he became the people's champion once again. Fallen, forgiven and fused back together, he was a champion again even though he finished second. He won by just showing up, and showing he still had that incredible ability to carry any generation of golfers to new heights of popularity.

He became larger than life by becoming just the right size.

Part of our problem with struggles is that we create many by thinking we are much greater than we are, by trying to always be #1, achieving our way to constant attention. This creates the need to do more, to be more. Another part of the problem is that we do not like the hand of cards life has dealt us so we try to be somebody else. We are always struggling the find the right size to stay.

Why is this so important? Because going through the struggle with God by our side leading us out of it makes us stronger, make us understand the perspective of man vs. spiritual powers trying to destroy us, that continue to leave us wanting more. In Ephesians 6:10-12, the struggle is outlined and concludes with this in verse 13:

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Sounds wonderful, but unless we become the right size, the armor never fits. It never works because we are always doing our will, being our own self-centered universe, and always elusive through a struggle. In fact we learn very little because we are so full of pride. I know, that was me; that was the old Tiger Woods.

The part of that verse that always intrigued me was and after you have done everything, to stand. To me that means that the Strength Comes From The Struggle, and though the armor may protect us, we still have to stand through many difficult battles of life to become battle tested and proven.

For those of us who have fallen, the comeback story we generate by doing this has far reaching consequences, especially that of showing our fellow man that this scripture, this story is live and in living color, and it works. 

We can weather any storm, fight any battle, if we just stay the right size (A.A. 12 & 12 Page 122)! He's God, I'm not!