Don't Shy Away From Difficulty

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

My younger brother Brett is a basketball trainer and coach by profession and I used to be a basketball coach. So when we get the chance to catch up (we live in different states) we spend a lot of time talking about our favorite sport.

I remember during one conversation Brett and I had, he was telling me about a kid he’s been training recently. We’ll call this kid Andy. Andy is part of a group of athletes working with Brett each week. On one particular night during a training session, Brett was working with the group on driving to the basket and finishing with a left-handed layup. Well, Andy was right-handed. So he would drive to the basket, but every time he got ready to shoot, he would lay the ball up with his right hand instead of his left.

Time after time, Brett would tell him to use his left hand instead, and Andy would smile and nod. But then when it was his turn to go, he would once again shoot a right-handed layup. Finally, after Andy had shot the ball incorrectly five times in a row, Brett stopped him and asked, “Andy, why do you keep shooting the ball with your right hand?”

Andy just looked at him at first and didn’t say anything. Brett kept pushing. “Andy, c’mon. You’ve got to answer me. Why are you not doing left-handed layups like I keep telling you to? Why are you shooting with your right hand?”

Andy finally responded, “Because left-handed layups are difficult.”

As Brett told me this story, he talked about how frustrating Andy’s response was. Here was a kid who was showing up to training sessions week after week, apparently wanting to work on his game, and yet when Brett would try to teach him something to help him grow and improve as a basketball player, Andy defaulted to what was easy and comfortable rather than listening to Brett.

I couldn’t help but think as I listened to Brett talk how so often, when it comes to following Christ, we do exactly what Andy did. We read God’s Word and we know exactly what we are supposed to be doing and how we’re supposed to be living, but when obedience gets difficult, we choose to take the easy route. We sense God telling us to do something or say something that’s out of our comfort zone or that leads us down an uncertain path, but we’re reluctant to do what He says because we don’t want to be uncomfortable or feel out of control.

Or maybe, we just don’t want to fail. I can imagine that the reason Andy liked shooting with his right hand better was because he knew he could make those shots more consistently than he could with his left hand. And I’m sure he didn’t want to look bad in front of the other athletes in the group. So he figured if he just kept shooting right-handed layups, even if that was in direct opposition to what Brett was telling him, he wouldn’t look like a failure.

Meanwhile, Brett tells me on the phone that he would have rather seen Andy miss the shot shooting with his left hand than make it with his right hand, because at least that showed that Andy was trying. He was listening. And he was trusting that Brett was asking him to do something that would only help him down the road.

What if God is thinking the same thing about us? What if He is looking for our obedience more than our perfection?

I’ve been around the game of basketball for over 20 years. I know that being able to shoot a left-handed layup is key. And I know that if Andy refuses to learn how to shoot that shot, it will hurt his game down the road. In the same way, I know deep down that if I choose not to obey God, if I choose not to follow His lead because I’m afraid of discomfort or difficulty or failure, those choices will have consequences down the road.

I don’t want to miss out on the opportunities or the blessings or the experiences God could be leading me towards just because I’m afraid of being uncomfortable. Instead, I want to do everything I can to obey Him, learn from Him, and follow Him so that I can experience His best. I know that’s what He wants for me, and I know that’s what He wants for you too.

If God is asking you to do something or leading you down an uncertain path, don’t hesitate to follow Him. Don’t resist obeying His commands. He always has your best interest in mind, and friend, He can always be trusted.