September 22, 2009
“I can’t take this anymore. All I do is lose. I just can’t do this. I quit.” And with those words I announced to my grade eight wrestling coach that I didn’t want to wrestle anymore. I was quitting the team and quitting the sport. I had given it a shot – I just wasn’t cut out for this.
I gave wrestling a shot, but it was harder than I thought it was going to be. It was really hard work. Everyday after school training hard; working on endurance, strength and flexibility. Endless hours working on technique – how to take an opponent down, how to counter moves by my opponent. Trying to throw guys to the mat – having other guys throw me to the mat. Trying to pin guys – getting pinned by other guys. Basically trying to beat my opponents, but getting my butt kicked. So, I was done. I tried, but clearly I wasn’t cut out for this.
When I told my coach that I was quitting he said something that shocked me. He said, “Don’t quit Dave. Stay with it. If you stay with this, you will be the next North Shore Champion.”
I was dumbfounded. Have you lost your mind? This is me we’re talking about. I can’t beat anyone – how am I going to be a champion??
He indicated that he saw ability in me and if I chose to be committed to the training and worked hard, that I would be a champion. So, I chose to believe my coach and stay. I was committed to the training and I worked hard. And, you know what? I was the North Shore Champ that year. In fact, I was five time North Shore Champ. I was voted Rookie of the year, then junior of the year and won 2 silver medals at the Provincials. However, I was going to quit because I couldn’t see what my coach saw. He saw more than who I was, He saw who I could be.
Some of you are thinking of quitting: your faith, your marriage, your church, your ministry, an important relationship, it could be any number of things. I believe that your Coach – Jesus – has you in a training program, and it is very difficult. He is putting you in difficult situations to build endurance, strength and flexibility. He is teaching you how to take down your opponent and how to counter attacks by your opponent. He sees who you can be if you will stay committed to the program and give it all you’ve got. Don’t give up. Stay with it. Stay with your coach. You need to understand that He chose you to be on this team – you didn’t choose Him.
Stay with it. Stay with Him. He sees who you can be.
John 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
Strength and courage,
David