There are numerous differences between professional golfers and recreational ones. (Hello, Captain Obvious.) But one of the most significant is their opposing views of sand traps . . . aka bunkers.
Even though they are considered a hazard (or penalty area), most professionals don’t fear them. They feel confident of getting out of them, believe they can make a good shot from there, and often aim for one as the best shot option.
Not so for many recreational golfers. They would rather be anywhere but in a bunker. Give them the worst rough and they would be happy because that, at least, is a known quantity. It’s grass.
The difference? Professional golfers practice and practice and practice getting out of bunkers, so much so that they trust their shot.
Life as a Christian isn’t much different. Often we are thrown into new and difficult situations that we haven’t ever been in before, and we would rather be anywhere but there.
But the real issue is also one of trust. Not in a club, but in God. And the same remedy applies. Let me explain.
Many of us, at sometime in our lives, have prayed for patience . . . only to find out that the only way to gain patience is to deal with situations where patience is required. Patience isn’t magically bestowed on us from above (though we would certainly like it to be.)
The same with trust. The only way our trust can grow is to be put into situations where trust is required. The more we experience God’s faithfulness, love, mercy, protection . . . the more our trust grows.
James writes in his epistle to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 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.”
As one writer so aptly says, “Trials develop our spiritual muscles, giving us the stamina and endurance to stay the course (Romans 5:2–5). We can count it all joy in trials because in them we learn to depend on God and trust Him.” (Got Questions)
Even though they are considered a hazard (or penalty area), most professionals don’t fear them. They feel confident of getting out of them, believe they can make a good shot from there, and often aim for one as the best shot option.
Not so for many recreational golfers. They would rather be anywhere but in a bunker. Give them the worst rough and they would be happy because that, at least, is a known quantity. It’s grass.
The difference? Professional golfers practice and practice and practice getting out of bunkers, so much so that they trust their shot.
Life as a Christian isn’t much different. Often we are thrown into new and difficult situations that we haven’t ever been in before, and we would rather be anywhere but there.
But the real issue is also one of trust. Not in a club, but in God. And the same remedy applies. Let me explain.
Many of us, at sometime in our lives, have prayed for patience . . . only to find out that the only way to gain patience is to deal with situations where patience is required. Patience isn’t magically bestowed on us from above (though we would certainly like it to be.)
The same with trust. The only way our trust can grow is to be put into situations where trust is required. The more we experience God’s faithfulness, love, mercy, protection . . . the more our trust grows.
James writes in his epistle to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 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.”
As one writer so aptly says, “Trials develop our spiritual muscles, giving us the stamina and endurance to stay the course (Romans 5:2–5). We can count it all joy in trials because in them we learn to depend on God and trust Him.” (Got Questions)
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