“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” – James 1:2-3

Are You a Grinder?

Are you a grinder? You know, you may score well once the golf ball finds the bottom of the cup, but for the most part, you’ve played through the woods, weeds and sand to chuck it on the green and eventually in for a par.

The 2012 U.S. Open was a tribute to grinders. The world’s elite players were reduced to grinders as they made their way around the Olympic Club. It was said that it may have been one of the hardest course setups ever, and the scores reflected it. Webb Simpson shot back-to-back sub-par rounds to win by a stroke. Throughout the week, many players lamented the course’s difficulty and said they just had to “grind it out.”

So, are you a grinder? No, not in golf, but in life. You may be going through life hitting fairways and greens with the greatest of ease, then suddenly, God presents you with a major challenge. How do you respond? You have similar options to pro golfers. You can withdraw, miss the cut, have a bad attitude and play poorly….or you can hang in there and grind it out. The Bible calls it perseverance, and there is a purpose for it. The joy in that verse is rooted in a deeper faith produced by enduring troubles. What challenges are you facing today? Keep grinding it out in faith.

— Scott Lehman, In His Grip