The scene opens, and Lawerence Taylor stands before his audience, defining the term “guts.” In his definition, Lawerence would say that guts equal courage, guts equal determination, and guts equal intensity. Lawerence would say guts equal something different for all of us, but it always means giving it your best shot and never giving up! I have described Lawrence Taylor and his guest appearance on the early 90’s nickelodeon TV show “Guts.” Guts was an obstacle course-style game TV show where contestants would enter these different obstacles competing for a trophy. Only those who endured, kept the course, and never gave up, would complete the obstacles and receive the trophy.
Like unto Guts, we have modern-day adult obstacle races. In these races, competitors traveling on foot must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles. Mud and trail runs are combined, and the races are designed to result in mental and physical collapse. These obstacles include but are not limited to climbing over walls, carrying heavy objects, traversing bodies of water, crawling under barbed wire, and jumping through fire. Many of these obstacles are similar to those used in military training. In contrast, others are unique to obstacle racing and are employed throughout the course to test endurance, strength, speed, and agility. The part that interests me for the moment is that these different obstacles are designed to test you mentally and make you fail physically.
Thinking now of the spiritual race that we as Christians run, there are many obstacles placed before us by life itself (James 1:2-3), and they are also designed to test us. Test us mentally and spiritually. Mentally and spiritually, both for enduring power. James penned these words, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (Js.1:2-3).” James, from this, informs us that there will be obstacles and tests. These obstacles and tests will come in many forms and are used to test our character. If we remain under the trial and don’t give up, we will come out on the other side of the trial, becoming more like what God wants us to be; we will become spiritually mature. So how do we then face these obstacles? How do we gain patience? The answer is found at the beginning of verse 2- JOY. In facing trials, we are to have the right attitude. We are to have a positive attitude. The kind of attitude that Paul describes in Philippians 4:8. In having this attitude, we will find ways/reasons to endure. And when we cannot, James tells us to pray to God; in doing so, He will provide us with the wisdom to endure the trials.
So, as we fight the good fight of faith, as we run this race called life with endurance, let us have the attitude that God calls for us to have so that we can say at the close of our lives that we have fought a good fight, we have finished the course, we have kept the faith! I leave you with these questions. Do you have the attitude necessary to endure the trials of life? Do you have the “guts?” Will your mind and faith be tried true? The answer lies within you!
