Can You Thank God During Practices?

Whatever stage of life you are in, whatever team/gym/group you call yours, whatever level of commitment you have towards your body and goals you are practicing. We can call it training but the truth of the matter is that it is a form of practice. Athletes call it practice because they are preparing for a game, and likewise everyone else is practicing to be better at a rec sport, or a hobby, or maybe even just life. Either way, we are practicing to be better at our objectives.

Because it’s practice, we can all agree that it’s not always the most fun. I don’t care who you are, grinding away at the stone that encapsulates your goals is not the fun part. Sweeping the last of the dusty rock that has kept you from your goal is the euphoric moment you work so hard for. And maybe some practices are great and encouraging, but others can be mentally and physically frustrating. Just the other day I was doing something during a workout. It was so easy, and I was killing it. And then I went to do something that was easier. I had done it hundreds of times. It was a no brainer. And I failed.

Sometimes during life God gives us a good practice. He encourages us and builds up our confidence. Maybe he blesses you physically or he might even just build you up mentally. It’s easy to think about praises to God in these moments. Sometimes we forget about thanking God because the world is just going our way. And then sometimes not so much.

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” – James 1:2-4

Life can get hard. You know what it’s like to have a bad practice, and then another, and yet another. Looking back all you may see are struggles and trials. Is this what life will be like form now on? Your thoughts immediately drift towards negativity, bitterness, and possibly defeat. Here God is giving your faith the chance to practice. In these moments, like any good athlete, the opportunity to grind with a smile on your face has presented itself. The quote “You learn more from losing than you do winning” is a bitter sweet truth that we don’t like to hear. EVER. And yet, it’s more fact than fiction.

You Learn More From Losing Than You Do Winning

If you want to know how to overcome the yips in life it’s pretty simple. Praise God. Thank him for the challenge. Love him for the opportunity to be challenged. Humbly go to Him in admiration. In short – GET OVER YOUR OWN EGO. When you look at it through a lens of humility everything becomes clear, and you can see what God is teaching you during these practices. Whether or not you learn is entirely up to you though.

Keep practicing atheltes. God loves you.