“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
Overcoming Obstacles
Many athletes play their favorite music through their headphones before games as motivation. Athletes and coaches can learn from musicians how to keep a positive attitude when they deal with injuries, or struggles on the team, or issues at home. Since music makes the world go round, people admire talented singers.
The life of traveling singers sounds fun, but traveling four days a week almost every week of the year drains you. It’s tough on your family and the chance of accidents is increased. For example, singers Mike and Kelly Bowling travel in their motor home. They have beds, showers and a kitchen in their bus. All their comfort disappeared in a moment when their bus crashed and they suffered severe injuries. After the accident, they considered an easier job, but chose to continue traveling and singing for the Lord as soon as they got well.
How does a singer or any person continue singing through all the circumstances of life? Squire Parsons answered with one of his songs: “I sing because there is an empty grave; I sing because there is a power that saves; I sing because His grace is real to me; I sing because I am not alone; I sing because one day I am going home to sing throughout eternity.” God’s amazing grace worked in Parsons’ life for decades as he kept on singing through the years until his recent retirement. He “sang when he was happy and when he had tears.”
In an uncertain and changing world, God and His promises are unchanging and completely reliable. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ is a constant comfort when we lose family members, our health and our wealth. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
When Joni Eareckson was 17, she dove into the water. She hit her head and was paralyzed for life from her shoulders down to her feet. She went through severe depression for a few months, but her Christian faith taught her to overcome obstacles. She learned to paint with a paintbrush in her mouth. She sang and recorded songs, wrote books, started a radio program and encouraged other disabled people through her example and words of encouragement. In 1982, Joni married Ken Tada. Joni Eareckson Tada is now 70 years old and still singing in spite of her severe pain as well as bouts with cancer! “[W]eeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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