Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
The accomplishments are impressive. All-American golfer at Brigham Young University… 110 weeks in the Top Ten of the World Golf Rankings… Masters Champion… President’s Cup participant and captain.
The above resume belongs to Mike Weir. And his stellar career might not have happened without a letter from Jack Nicklaus.
Weir is a right-hander who plays golf left-handed. In 1984, he was 13 years old and had achieved some success as a lefty. His dream was to someday play on the PGA Tour, but he noticed southpaws on the Tour were few and far between. That realization prompted him to consider converting to right-handed to increase his odds of achieving his goal.
Before making a final decision, Weir decided to write to Jack Nicklaus and seek his opinion on making the switch. The Golden Bear responded: “If you are a good left-handed player, don’t change anything, especially if that feels natural to you.”
Weir resisted the temptation to fall in line with the others, trusting the advice from Nicklaus and his own ability as a lefty. It was the correct decision, and Jack’s letter is appropriately framed in the Weir home.
In the 17th chapter of 1 Samuel, we find a story that has some parallels with ignoring common wisdom and trusting what works for you. Most people know the story of David and Goliath, but for those who don’t, here’s a brief synopsis.
King Saul’s Israelites and the Philistines were locked in a stalemate battle. Goliath was a Philistine warrior who stood over 9 feet tall. He taunted King Saul to send an opponent to challenge him in a winner-take-all match, but Saul resisted because he had no soldiers who could match Goliath. But the young shepherd David offered to fight and finally convinced Saul to let him challenge the Philistine.
Goliath was outfitted with armor, as was customary for all soldiers, so it was natural for Saul to outfit David in the same manner. But the heavy armor and sword were too much for David: “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 1 Samuel 17:39(b).
David chose to ignore what everyone else was doing and relied on what he was taught. He put his trust in his slingshot and in God, telling Goliath, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.” And that trust was fulfilled, as David hurled a stone that killed Goliath, launching Israel’s victory over the Philistines.
While it’s good to be aware of traditional customs, don’t automatically discard what’s worked in the past. Mike Weir chose to trust his ability with a left-handed swing.
David chose to trust his ability with a slingshot. When you have a big decision to make, turn to someone you trust. And who better to turn to than the one who created you and knows you better than you know yourself. Like David, turn to the Lord Almighty!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, when we face challenges in our lives, help us to put our trust in you and to be obedient to your loving guidance. Amen.