For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)
On the Friday, June 14, 2024, devotional, Links Boo Arnold, our South Texas Area Director, joined Dennis Darville and did a great job of sharing three areas of adversity everyone will encounter, has encountered, or is experiencing presently. I encourage you to read and watch the video again.
Let’s revisit the 2nd of the three topics Boo discussed, which is a serious loss. He mentioned it could be loss of life or physically something that will affect you the rest of your life. The example was Joni Erickson Tada.
I’d like to introduce you to my favorite golfer in the world. He’s the guy I’d want to play golf with if I only had one round and could play any course in the world. Jeremy “J-Dawg” Marti”. He has played in 3 State Adaptive Opens, winning his division in the 2023 South Carolina Adaptive Open. Being his caddy (he fired his dad at age 13), I have not only observed his pure joy of the game of golf, but in these adaptive events, witnessed hundreds of other golfers with permanent loss of limbs and other lifelong challenges that most of us have never experienced. Talk about overcoming adversity!
Watching these golfers face the normal adversities we experience on the course, and to do it with one arm, two prosthetic legs, paralysis from the waist down, and many other challenges, causes me to do something I hope each of us reading this will do more often: Give thanks and Praise to the Lord.
Not because we aren’t facing the challenges or dealing with the same adversities Adaptive golfers have, but because the Creator of the Universe has knit us together in our mother’s womb, and His plans for us are perfect.
Even when tragedy hits us hard, we can still trust our Heavenly Father has a plan for “all things” to work for our good, even when it doesn’t seem good at the moment.
To hear the stories of how the adaptive players lost their limbs, many from defending our freedoms by serving in the military, some from disease, others from terrible choices by either themselves or others that resulted in their disability, and some that received an extra chromosome.
So, if God is so good, why do we see these challenges in ourselves or others? As Boo mentioned, we live in a broken sin-cursed world. One day, God’s kingdom will come in full, and the absence of evil, death, disease, suffering, racism, hate, war, and all the rest of the brokenness of mankind, including Satan himself, will be gone forever.
Until that time, we have a chance to grow in endurance, character, and faith by trusting, praising, and surrendering to Jesus, who has already given us victory by defeating death, hell, and the grave.
For those fortunate to meet J-Dawg (given that name by Christian singer, rapper, and songwriter Toby Mac), you will immediately see past the Down Syndrome he lives with and recognize a deep love for God, people, and a passion for golf. And by the way, if you are ever in Lamar, MO, stop by and play his beautiful 9-hole golf course, Jeremy’s Creek. Until then…
- Have hope in the next life.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you daily.
- Recognize the material world has fallen.
- Refocus on His promises of the restoration of all things.
- Rest in God’s love because nothing can separate us from it.
Prayer: Father, we thank you for who you are and your perfect plan, even when it hurts or hinders who and what we love.