Great Faith

I recently read a short biopic on an English minister from the mid-1800's named Smith Wigglesworth. His life was filled with adversity and conflict, but his outlook on life reflected a true example of a man of God who placed his faith in front of his life's circumstances. I was especially drawn to a particular quote that was shared regarding his faith in God. The quote goes as follows, "Great faith is a product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials." An old adage came to my mind as I read this message, "nothing ventured, nothing gained". Meaning our faith is based in trust, and trust is developed in adversity or uncomfortable situations. As I read Smith's quote the truth of his statement became a message I had to share. Here we go. 

So, I may be the only one that needed clarity on this topic. I suppose it is possible that most people get it, that for us to experience triumph you have to be in a competition. Trials in life are a competition of sorts. In life's trials we are all fighting against an enemy. It may be a person, it could be a thing such as cancer, or it may be an internal matter such as depression or doubt, but we all experience battles in life. Just as a warrior going to battle against his enemy, we battle the demons that are attempting to knock us down and destroy our relationship with God. Going to battle requires us to equip ourselves with armor and weapons to overcome our adversary and Paul provides us with a checklist of items we should secure as we go to war with our adversities in Ephesians 6:10-23. The battle is the means by which we gain the ends of increased faith. Without the former we can not gain the latter. My point here is you won't experience triumph if you don't first have the conflict to overcome. Embrace your conflicts, they lead to victory. 

"Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests." This past week I experienced what I believe to be my fortieth flat tire since around 2010. Although that was not a "great test" it was a testament to grit and resilience. I was extremely thankful for my friend and colleague Matt Price who, just like a pit crew chief, grabbed the tire wrench and went straight to the business of loosening the nuts while I jacked up the car. The true test is that I have had an extremely high number of flat tires over the past fifteen years. Without those flat tires I would not have the testament of persevering through adversity if not for the tests of fixing my flats. Additionally, "Flat Tire Ministries" which is a direct outcome of all of those flat tires and the ability to problem solve and troubleshoot in times of a test. The Apostle Peter shared "Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire." I Peter 1:7. Gold is only purified through the heat of the fire, our testimony is created through the fire of tests of adversity. 

Finally, Wigglesworth shared that great faith is the direct product of great fights. In all of his wisdom King Solomon provided us with the Book of Proverbs. The vast collection of wise sayings to live by is a treasure in itself and Proverbs 17:3 speaks to the idea of growing our faith through life's struggles. "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart." I have talked with a number of family and friends since my latest flat tire incident and it has served as a symbol of faith over circumstances in many of those conversations. As you encounter life's struggles and trust me you will, having a strong, unbreakable faith will see you through. One of my Bible heroes is Paul, and Paul made it clear that regardless of the thorn in his flesh, he was going to continue serving and believing in Christ as his personal savior. In II Corinthians 12:9-10 Paul establishes his faith in this statement "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Great faith. 

A flat tire is a mere inconvenience, forty flat tires is a fight. I thank God for the opportunities to share messages each week through the lessons I have learned persevering through 40 flat tires and all the other struggles, challenges, and fights in my life. Without the struggles, fights, and challenges I would not have built the resilience I have acquired, nor would I have learned how to get back up when I got knocked down. I challenge you to flip the script on your own challenges and struggles today. I am certain your battles are much more serious or severe than my flat tires, but a challenge is a challenge and a fight is a fight. Whatever you are facing, know that you are not facing it alone. Rely on your faith and trust that God is in it with you, and He will see you through it! 

Coach Carter