Lessons from the US Open

The professionals. They make it look easy. We see them make one mistake and immediately question their ability.
I have been watching a lot of tennis over the last couple of weeks. If you missed the mens final, you really missed out. What a match.

I grew up playing tennis and love the sport. I love playing with my mom and even joined a rec league this past spring which was a great challenge for me. 

As I watch all of the greats, and even the "new kids on the block" play, I find myself sighing in disbelief when they miss a shot. And then I just laugh to myself remembering how much I struggle to make a shot after a measly 5 shot rally. What these people are doing is hard. 

There are some people that we think are “professional Christians”. They make faith, obedience, and pursuing holiness look easy. The truth is a, professional does not become one overnight. All you see is the performance. No one will pay to watch hours and hours of someone practicing their skill, seeking counsel from coaches or eating the perfect amount of macros each day.

(However I do follow JJ Watt on instagram and I don’t mind getting a peek into his life)

So think back to that “professional Christian” you know and consider this:
How many hours have they spent reading and memorizing scripture?
How many hours have they spent with a trusted mentor to learn what it looks like to walk by the Spirit?
How many times have they surrendered their struggle to God in faith?

As observers we may think we can do it just like the professionals do. But, I’ve played tennis, and it ain’t as easy as they make it seem. So when the waters rise, when challenges come, and you’re hoping you will/can perform like a "professional" Christian, you might be disappointed.
**disclaimer: the only "professional" Christian is the one with Jesus**

There is good news though:
You can start training TODAY!!!


Do the work. Though there is no such thing as a professional Christian, there is such thing as a seasoned person of faith.

Show up, day after day, and expect for God to show up. 

It is NOT: Show up, day after day, and watch how good you get. 

Young people everywhere are training to be the next JJ Watt, Serena Williams, Justin Verlander, or whoever else you think is a great athlete. The truth is, most of them won't get there. I am always encouraged by students who show up to the weight room over and over again to improve in their sport. I am even more impressed by those that show up but still don't get to play as much as they would like.

But when we seek spiritual strength, we realize we can never lose. 

Romans 5: 1 - 5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Yes, and Amen!!

Jeremiah 29:13
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Be all in. I know from personal experience that going to the gym for 3 weeks, stopping for 6 weeks, and going back for another 2 does not give me the results I am looking for. I have to be all in. Fully committed to the cause.

What can you do today to go all in? 
Pray.
Surrender.
Ask for help.
Seek accountability.
Read His word.

I can't answer that for you. But I can tell you that surrender = freedom. I can also tell you that it has taken significant work on my part to have the faith I have today. I believe in God more today because of the experiences (read also trials, sufferings, not fun things...) I've had, working together with spiritual disciplines in my life. 

And of course, as the name of my blog suggests, it's never over. Not until we reach "professional" status and God calls us home.

Stay in it friend. Go for it. I believe in you.
Here for you as you seek to never stop growing.