“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”
Hebrews 12:11-13
ESV
When I was in highschool I played different sports, and every summer we were required to attend training sessions called “Speed and Strength Camp.” I hated these camps. It was summer, and we had to be at the track by 5am. This camp was for every sport, so we cross trained. We lifted weights, we sprinted, we distance trained…. We did it all. I hated this camp. You know why? Because I didn’t care about any of the sports that I played. I didn’t care about being in shape during the summer or improving my skills. I just wanted to sleep, eat junk food, and read all summer. You know who loved these camps? The serious athletes. They were playing the long game. They knew that, while these camps were painful, they would help them to succeed in their sports in the long run. They were being trained, and each week it got easier and easier for them to do the workouts. Their discipline paid off when they took the court or the field that next season. So what does this have to do with God? Hebrews 12:11-13 says,
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”
I love the second half of this verse. I can just picture some motivational speaker shouting these words from stage, “get those hands up, and strengthen those knees! Walk that straight path so that you can be healed!” Usually these words would be preceded by some spiel about finding your victory and overcoming your circumstances! However, what comes before this encouragement has little to do with our current circumstances. Rather, it's about the long game. In these verses, the Bible tells us that we will experience painful circumstances, but that these circumstances are training us! The fruit of this training is the “peaceful fruit of righteousness.” This fruit, not a current circumstantial victory, is what will provide the healing for our brokenness. God plays the long game, because the long game is where we find true and complete victory.
My Prayer For You
Father, I thank you for playing the long game in our lives. Thank you for turning the painful circumstances in our lives, into paths for our healing. I pray that you would strengthen and encourage us as we face the everyday pains of life. Help us to keep your truth at the forefront of our minds, as we train in righteousness.
Use this verse image we created for you to share with your friends on social media!
Our staff would love to pray for you. Please go to www.fhlcarlsbad.org/request-prayer to submit your prayer request or schedule a time for one of our staff members to pray with you!
Thhanks great blog