When It's All About Getting to the Podium

Every four years, for two weeks in February, I become a veritable couch potato as I watch sleek-bodied, highly focused, and extremely skilled Olympic athletes compete for a place on the podium. The intensity of their resolve and the strength of their bodies never cease to amaze me. And when I look down at my own meager frame, slouched on the couch, I sigh. 

I’ll never be an Olympian (though it’s tempting to take up curling!) but I know the work of strength building. Not the strength that would launch me into a triple axel with a graceful landing on a sheet of ice. Not the strength to compete in multiple Olympic events and press on to win even after my best event turned into my worst. And never the strength to literally run up a mountain with cross-country skis strapped to my feet!

Instead, I’m building spiritual muscle, developing the kind of strength that comes from exercising my heart, soul, and mind in pursuit of the Lord day after day (Mark 12:30). 

I’m leaning into the strength of the Lord (Habakkuk 3:19) that gets me through tough days when there’s no medal to win, only the expectation ofmore troubles tomorrow (John 16:33). 

I’m pressing into the Spirit’s power (Romans 15:13) when the air is knocked out of my lungs by hurtful people and challenging circumstances (Luke 6:22-23). 

I’m focusing my eyes on Jesus, who not only understands my limitations and weaknesses but who once shared in my humanity (Hebrews 2:14). He experienced the same pressures to “win” when he walked this earth.

Living in our own strength just doesn’t cut it. The apostle Paul said, in I Timothy 4:8, “physical training is of some value,” but in the end only “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (emphasis added).

That promise is better than any gold, silver, or bronze medal (though those are pretty cool!). In Christ, every single one of us can take home the gold as we to tap into the strength only the Lord can provide. His supernatural strength is more than sufficient to withstand anything life and the devil can throw at us.

As you and I persist in this race called life, let’s focus on the strength that only comes from the Lord. Let’s give God the glory for our wins – and thank him for what we learn in our losses. The vast majority of the Olympians who competed in Italy this month left without medals, but no one in Christ will go home empty-handed! Our prize is heaven and our gold-medal performance is living for Christ (Phil. 1:21). 

See you on the podium!