Recently I saw a video about a teenage girl who is considered to be one of the best rock climbers in the world. It was pretty amazing to see her doing what for most of us would simply be impossible.
I think we are all fascinated when we watch people who excel in their fields of choice. Whether it's rock climbing or cross country skiing (I read another article about a man who skied to the north pole... by himself) or whatever it is, we marvel at the accomplishments of those who achieve greatness.
Yet the common thread in many of their stories is the amount of old-fashioned grit they display to keep going. Perhaps it is that process, pushing past trials and tests, victories and failure that actually hone the talent they already possess.
Perhaps that's what marks the difference between those who win the race and those who do not?
Maybe that is why James tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)
To get to a place of maturity in our walk with the Lord, we have to go through the trials, not around them.
