April 16, 2024

I have the privilege of running the Dive training for ALERT, and one thing that I often stress throughout my classes is hardship. "There is no growth apart from being stretched" is a quote that I frequently remind the dive guys of. There is an event that we do called the confidence course. This obstacle course includes many physically and mentally demanding things, all on top of, under or around the water. Usually the first time through the course, a percentage of the guys hit a mental wall and begin to panic. Interestingly though, after their second or third time through the course, their time to complete it dramatically decreases. This is a really clear example of how persevering through hardship breeds growth and maturity. And if we apply that same concept to life, we can see that no matter what we face, God can grow us. So don’t run away from hardship; remember that there is no growth apart from being stretched.

Striving for Christ,