I now have the honour and blessing to be part of the grandparents’ club. For some time, we have been praying, with our daughter and her husband, trusting God for a baby. As the time went by, we fasted, prayed and our daughter compiled a prayer petition, standing firm and trusting God for the promises in His Word. She received confirmation from God that she was going to have a baby and that it would be in a year’s time. However, it was difficult when some of her friends and other women around her, fell pregnant and she did not.
We all kept trusting God and accepted that we had to wait for His Masterplan to fall into place. We knew that this baby, has a destiny and a definite role to play in life. God constantly told us to wait, reminding us in Habakkuk 2:3: “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” We continued to stand in faith, on God’s Word, fasting, praying and saying thank You for the baby’s life, although we were yet to see the results with our eyes. (Hebrews 11:1). Praise God, for our healthy, beautiful and blessed granddaughter was born in May 2017, less than a year after the confirmation was received. It was amazing to be there, holding this new life, in my arms. As I looked into her eyes, it became real, that she too, are now in the game called life.
Everyone who breathes, must play in the game called life. There are different players, all unique and bringing different qualities and challenges into the game. Now, no one goes into a game to win it, unprepared. One needs to know the rules, the do’s and the don’ts. This in turn, helps us to know and set the boundaries, where after a game plan can be compiled.
Whilst playing in the game called life, we are not alone. We are in contact with other players all the time, and therefore, we are bound to get hurt, bruised, disappointed and sometimes may even fail. However, let us not forget the great amount of successes we also had, which is what we should be focusing on. All these experiences, whether good or bad, are called life experience. As we play the game of life over the years, the rules on how to play the game, stay the same. There will always be obstacles, challenges, failures but also successes. In turn, this means that we grow in life experience and as it grows, we have more tools, to amend our game plan, ultimately ensuring a higher level of success. That is why older people and those that have been through tough times, can give such excellent advice. If we choose to listen and put that advice into practice, it will surely contribute to less effort, yet produce higher levels of success.
For me, success is not always to win and to win does not mean, that it comes easy. To run in a marathon with the aim to complete it, you must train over a period, enduring discomfort and pain, whilst training your muscles. So, it is in the game called life. We play, learn, grow and play again. Yes, it sometimes involves a stumble and fall, but remember, to win, is to get up and continue to play, until the final whistle blows.
What has your game been like? Are you winning or have you been taking so many knocks to the ground, that you feel down and despondent? I also want to ask, who is your coach and by what rules do you play? For me and my family, we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Coach and God’s Book on life, the Bible, are the rules we play by. Yes, I also struggle, stumble, make mistakes and fall. I have even played outside the rule book, having to face the consequences. However, having Jesus as my Saviour and Coach, the Holy Spirit every time, guides, directs and motivates me back onto the game field, telling me that I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
We all, at some point in the game called life, take knocks, fall and fail. Yes, some face greater challenges than others, but remember that God says to us in Isaiah 54:16 – 17: ““Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin. No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the LORD.”” He also says in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind and God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Dear reader, I want to encourage you to make Jesus your Coach and to get to know and live by the rules of life in God’s Word. God says in Proverbs 3:1 – 2: “My son, do not forget My teaching, but let your heart keep My commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace, they will add to you.” Therefore, when you fail or fall to the ground, the key is to focus on getting up. Use the failures as lessons to grow, amend your game plan and play again.
Remember, with Christ as your Coach, despite all the challenges in the game of life, overwhelming victory is yours. Therefore, you will always be more than a conqueror, through Christ, who loves you (Romans 8:37).
Love in Christ
Princess K