“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Heb.11:6)
The seasonal golfer is one who chooses the best time of year to play, taking advantage of favorable weather and ideal course conditions. Some might argue that these golfers are the wisest, seeking out the perfect environment to enjoy the game. After all, playing golf in ideal conditions will likely result in a fun and lower-scoring game!
However, what motivates some golfers to brave freezing cold, rain, and wind? We have Canadian golfers who come to Myrtle Beach every winter (we call them ‘Snowbirds’) and they play in below 50-degree weather almost every day. There’s no doubt that they are refining their game through these challenging conditions.
Life can mirror these seasons. We might experience a spring-like season, filled with fresh beginnings—perhaps a new marriage, child, or job. Or we could find ourselves in the heat of summer, dealing with the pressures of life and trying to get through the daily grind.
For me, fall always feels like a refreshing breath after the summer heat. But winter—perhaps the hardest season of all—brings storms and bitter cold. I’ve gone through the “winters” of life, where I thought spring was just around the corner, only for the “groundhog” (symbolizing the devil) to have different plans of testing. Winter can be the toughest season, but it’s also the most necessary. Without enduring these difficult times, we wouldn’t fully appreciate the joy and renewal that spring brings.
Just as life reflects the changing of seasons, golf courses also mirror these fluctuations. Each course has its own difficulty level. So, if we limit ourselves to only playing on courses with optimal conditions or easier ratings, we miss the opportunity to push ourselves toward greater refinement.
What does it mean to be refined?
The Bible says, “…even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6–7).
Refinement is the process of making something purer and stronger. In our lives, this process often comes through the trials God allows us to face. These challenges are designed to strengthen us and build our faith. Our faith is one of God’s most precious gifts. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
The seasons of life are divinely appointed. God knows the obstacles we will face before we do, and He allows us to walk through life’s trials to refine us and draw us closer to Christ. As Zechariah 13:9 says, “I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
While playing golf in perfect conditions is enjoyable, I encourage you not to limit yourself to one season or only easier courses. Challenge yourself. Push beyond what you think are your limitations and flex your golfing mentality. Similarly, as believers, we should embrace life’s challenges, knowing that with each trial and each season, God is refining us, strengthening our faith, and making us more resilient.
Prayer: “Lord, help keep our faith strong in every season.”