Facing Your Struggles

By Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director

I am a big sports fan. Of course, my desire is for my team to win the championship every year. Not a very big wish, huh?

I was thinking this morning, what if when the season started, they just automatically said, “Rodney, without even starting the season, your team won. They are the new champions of their league.”

If I’m being honest, that excitement might last about 3 seconds and then I would be asking questions like, “What?! How? They didn’t do anything?!” Holding the trophy in the end without the journey toward it doesn’t quite mean the same thing, does it?

You see, what makes crossing the finish line sweet is not just about receiving a trophy, but it’s also about understanding and being satisfied with the work that went into the process and the journey.

Think about the stories of the journeys we took to get to where we are now. You will hear things like, “We had some rough spots that challenged us, but with God’s help, we persevered and kept fighting.”

I am reminded that while I have been given the privilege and honor of being on Christ’s team as one of his children, as a believer, I should not take that for granted and just sit back and coast into the finish line. God is inviting us into a partnership with himself.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17 NIV).

As believers, we have already been given the gift of salvation, and we already know how this ‘season’ or story will end for us because we know the end of the story. One day we will cross that finish line into the arms of our Savior for eternity. However, the Father desires for us to keep growing in our relationship with him, to serve others who don’t know him, and to live for him daily.

All our struggles, pain, and obstacles we face as we strive for the finish line will be no more once we finish this race.

Each day we must ask ourselves the question, “What needs to be thrown off today that is hindering me from running well for the Kingdom?”

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

The Father is cheering you on right now. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Can you imagine the reunion at the finish line? This new year won’t be easy, but the strength he gave you last year will carry you through this new year. Keep your eyes on him—it will be worth it.

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If you would like to learn how to start your own Celebrate Recovery ministry, to contact your Celebrate Recovery Rep, please visit: https://crgroups.info/. To get involved in an already existing Celebrate Recovery ministry near you, please visit: https://locator.crgroups.info/.