Charity (love)…believeth all things, hopeth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7, KJV)
One of my greatest mistakes in younger years was believing the worst. I followed my dad’s example. Mom was the opposite.
I remember playing in the Idaho State Championship while still a teenager. I made it to the 36-hole final of the match play event. But in morning round I played poorly and Jerry Cloninger, my opponent, shot five under. I felt fortunate to be six down.
During lunch with Dad and Mom, I told them I was worried that I might not make it to the last nine holes. Dad was worried, too, about me hurting “the Hiskey name.”
I’ve learned that substituting gratitude for believing the worst is a step to the Higher Ground.“You can still win,” Mom said. “I know you can.” I still remember her words and the look on her face as she stared into my eyes. Bright, like I imagine the continence of an angel.
She did believe I could win. I felt I had “no chance.”
In the afternoon I wrestled a couple of holes from Jerry on the first nine and was only four down going into the last nine.
Then something happened.
I shot the lowest round of my life, a 29, and won in a playoff.
I knew after I won and I know today it wouldn’t have happened without my mom’s belief in me when I did not believe in myself.
The Amplified Translation of today’s verse reads, “Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances.”
Mom personified these words.
Paul wrote of Abraham, “Who against hope believed in hope… He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith giving glory to God.” (Romans 4:18a, 20)
I wish I could say that I overcame my tendency to believe the worst, but I can’t. It’s still a struggle.
One mind-change for me is 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
I’ve learned that substituting gratitude for believing the worst is a step to the Higher Ground. What better ground can we be on than “giving thanks for ALL THINGS?” (By the way, my dad learned this lesson too after he met Jesus.)
Paul challenged Timothy: “Train yourself in godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7, NIV). May we train ourselves to believe the best, and make every day a Day of Thanksgiving.
—
Jim Hiskey
November 24, 2015
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