Know When to Fight

Cyclists have a special relationship with hills. Mainly, we all hate them, but they are inevitable part of our sport. Some cyclists like to go fast on the flats and downhills, but then they don't have the energy for the climbs, so they put it in the lowest gear and just suffer through it. Others will try to maintain the same effort level all the time, so they slow down on the hills but still work just as hard.

The greats though, they're a different breed. They embrace the hills. They work on the downhills and flats, but at a level that they know can be maintained. Something special happens when they get to the hills - they fight to get over them. All the energy they've saved goes into attacking that hill and reaching the summit before they can relax coming back down the other side... and leaving their competitors way behind and out of breath.

Here's the thing though, attacking the hills makes them easier. Your muscles respond and grow to the training and the more you work hard on them, the easier they are to deal with.

James 1: 2 - 4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that it is the testing of your faith that produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Just like many cyclists, we tend to put a lot of energy into the good times. It's easy to put effort into the times that benefit us and we want to get there quickly. After all it's fun to go fast. Some people are able to maintain the effort level and balance it between the good and bad times. The greats though, they work during times that are easy and fun, but they fight when times get tough.

James reminds us that the trials are coming. He also reminds us that those trials produce the perseverance to continue. The greater our perseverance, the easier those trials are to fight through, even as they get tougher in nature. Don't put so much effort into all the fun stuff in life that you're too exhausted to do anything but struggle during the trials. Work at a level that you know you can maintain and when those trials come, fight to stay in the Word, fight to be faithful in prayer, fight to be faithful to your Savior. It's a guarantee that He is still fighting for you.

Imagine the response in your spouse, children, family, or friends when hard times come and they see you step up your effort and fight for them!