Trusting God When Fortitude Fails You

Finding Peace in the Presence of God

Trophy Case

When I was in school I loved sports. I ran track, played softball, basketball and volleyball. Our teams were made up of classmates so we always had a good time. I was not the best player on the team but our team was pretty good. During one volleyball season I served the entire winning set in our last game of the tournament. The excitement just built up with each unreturned serve. Today’s rules would not allow one player to serve the whole game but it was my shining moment. It was a time when you had to win the game to get a trophy. As a team we were very excited because this win would ensure us a trophy.

As much as I liked the game; I really loved the trophies. Our team would pose proudly smiling ear to ear. I had a small but special corner of my room for the trophies. When we got medals I would hang them with thumbtacks to the wall. I had pictures of the team with trophies. I had pictures of me with trophies. I had pictures of me wearing medals. These were my treasures and knew I would keep them forever.

And then grade school was over. 😊

And now I am not even sure what became of the trophies and medals.

Many of us start out our walk with Jesus with the same excitement, collecting trophy after trophy.

We go to church-trophy

We serve in church- trophy

We go to bible study-trophy

We pray two hours a day-trophy

We get more excited and earn more trophies. But somewhere along the way grade school ends. Things in life have changed and those trophies have collected dust. We try for new trophies but find it now feels like work and the competition is brutal. It may be easier just to admire the trophy case and dust off the those medals. I am not telling you to stop going to church or serving or praying or even attending bible study. But if we are focusing too much of our time seeking a trophy we may be missing the moment with God. God should be the focus of our seeking.


”You will seek Me and find Me, when you will search for Me with all your heart.“
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Our Heavenly Father wants us to seek Him not trophies.

ginajamespaul's avatar

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ginajamespaul

I love God and am loved by Him. I am a wife, mother and writer. I have spent most of my life keeping God at a distance. Of course He was always with me. In a world where we may feel we can never measure up, God tells us we are wonderfully and fearfully made. I had so much guilt and shame from a traumatic childhood experience. The trauma became greater when I told a trusted adult who did not believe my story. Guilt and shame left me feeling unworthy. I felt that I was nothing more than a sinner. I tried to live “right” but found it easier to just accept who I thought I would always be. Giving my life to Jesus gave me freedom but I held on to my old beliefs far too long. I hope to encourage others to seek God in all things and trust in Him and not in this world. The sins of others and your own sins do not define you. Accept God’s gift of grace through Jesus, who is Grace. “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14 TLV

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About Me

I love God who loves me. I am a wife and mother. I have spent most of my life keeping God at a distance. Of course He was always right here with me. In a world where we may feel we can never measure up, God tells us “we are fearfully and wonderfully made”. I had so much guilt and shame that I developed from a childhood experience. Because of my guilt and shame I often felt unworthy and sinful. I often tried to do the “ right thing”, but I found it easier to just accept who I thought I was and would always be. Giving my life to Jesus gave me freedom but I held on to my old beliefs far too long. I hope to encourage others to seek God in all things and trust in Him and not the world.
“ For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace.” Romans 6:14 CJB

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