Take on Tenacity

I was privileged last night to be given the opportunity to watch my sporting heroine of 8 years live at Rod Laver Arena, Australian Open 2010. It was something I spent the rest of yesterday and moments today thanking God for, because it was a dream that I never imagined would ever be fulfilled. However, throughout all those moments, I had a nagging feeling that God didn't grant me that seat in the house just so that I could be impressed along with the rest of the world. God had a rather pressing issue to speak to me about, and it's something He has been constantly reminding me about over the past few weeks.

It dawned on me only moments ago when I began to set aside time with God for today. Here was this sportswoman who I admired so much (8 YEARS!!) for her determination, tenacity and fighting spirit. Although she was physically not as blessed as other women in the sporting arena with qualities such as height and a bigger frame (which are important in tennis), she made use of what she had been given and battled her way to the very forefront of the tennis world, despite repeated disappointments, setbacks, personal crisis' and defeat along the way. There she was, with no God to live for, fighting as hard as she could to achieve the best she could.

It was my turn to ask myself, shouldn't I do likewise and fight determinedly for God with whatever He has given me, as one of His children? It's so easy for me to quit, to give up, to walk away from the tasks God has placed in my hands to accomplish here and now. I was reminded that the place I am in life at the moment is exactly where God wants me to be, and He wants me to live for Him, giving Him my best in each and every aspect of my life.

God is looking for people who don't cut and run at the first sight of trouble. He's looking for people who will stand firm without wavering on their faith, and press on despite not knowing what the end of the road is (which by the way, shouldnt worry us because Jeremiah tells us that God knows the plans He has for us, and they are good). Yet it's so easy for us to fall prey to the lie of the devil.

Although this athlete who I admire so much is no conventional "hero of the faith", she's not even a Christian or at least not that I know of, God still used her life to speak to me, and inspire me to live for God, to run the race he has set before me with perseverance.

Am I willing to stand firm? Are you willing?

"Therefore since we also have such a large crowd of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us." Hebrews 12:1