Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
Have you ever noticed that who and what we are most passionate about in life sometimes brings out the worst? There was a period after college golf when I was so embarrassed by how poorly I played. I was burnt out, and I wasn’t practicing, and when I did play, I’d get so frustrated by the ugliness that followed – both in my heart and my game.
Why was this so hard?
I can tell you the hole and the shot that changed my perspective. It was 2006, and on a Monday after covering the Curtis Cup at Bandon Dunes, I teed off just after the sun rose with my Coke and Snickers for a round on the flagship course. By the time I reached the 16th hole, the day had mostly been a struggle. But after I hit what felt like a great approach shot, I eagerly walked up to the green with my caddie, only to discover that my ball wasn’t there.
I’d airmailed it into the Pacific!
As I stood there looking over the cliffs at a magnificent view, I couldn’t be angry about my lost ball. My goodness, look at what the Lord has done!
I’m not saying this game hasn’t made my blood boil from time to time since then, but my perspective on how I treat big golf days that don’t go well has shifted immensely over the years.
Philippians is known as the “joy book,” and it’s important to remember that Paul is writing to the people of Philippi from a prison cell.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
Think of that round of golf as a divine appointment. In your mind, a bucket-list day likely revolves around your score. And it’s completely normal to have high standards and high expectations. But when your game goes south, does your attitude go down with it?
These days I try hard to find the beauty in the day – both the views and the people. Bad golf disappoints. There’s no way around it. But it’s possible to have a fulfilling and joy-filled day even when the golf is embarrassing.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. (v.5)
How we handle bad days tells people more about our lives in Christ than good ones.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. – Philippians 1:27
PRAYER: Father God, we thank you for the opportunity for bucket-list days and quality time with friends and strangers. Please help us keep perspective when things don’t go as planned. We rejoice in you, always.