The Underdog

"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position." 

James 1:9

This fall, Sports Illustrated is airing a new series called Underdogs about inspiring high schools.  First on tap is none other than my school, Friendship Collegiate Academy in Northeast D.C.  Check out those Knights!

These kids don't have much of anything going for them.  As a matter of fact, they've got a lot going against them.  Many live in housing projects, several are mugged on the way to and from school, and they don't even have any real field to play on.  But that doesn't stop them from donning their donated uniforms and persevering each and every day.  As I watched the video, beaming with pride all 9 minutes and 13 seconds, I couldn't help but think of the first letter of James. 

James is speaking to followers of Christ who are scattered across many nations devoid of the community and fellowship that so many of us enjoy and even rely on today. His greeting begins with this:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

I've mentioned this before, but I always always always do a double-take when I read the words "pure joy" followed by "trials of many kinds."  When I face trials in life, joy is not my typical instinct.  Quite the opposite really.  I run away and hide, I lash out at others, I get angry with God.  Rarely am I able to see the good in circumstances that are seemingly quite ugly.  And yet, I am told that only through the testing of my faith will I develop perseverance.

James continues with,

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

With this new verse, it is clear that trials and tests are only the beginning.  First our faith is tested in order that we should develop perseverance.  Once we know how to persevere and we trust the Lord's deliverance, we are tested by even more trials.  It is after withstanding those trials that we will receive the crown of life that God has promised!  

I often long for a worry-free life, a life free of sickness, free of death, free of anxieties.  That longing is legitimate, a deep soul heartache for a pure and perfect world.  The thing is, the moment that sin entered our world, we lost the ability to live a trouble-free life here on Earth.  We're living on a broken planet, with ugly politics, hurtful criticism, depression, disease, & hard hearts, not to mention poverty, hunger, murder, war.  And yet, despite the trials we face and the heartaches we endure, as Christians we know that there's a happy ending to our story.  God has promised US the crown of life, everlasting life, glorious & eternal life in communion with Him forever!  With that in mind, we CAN withstand trials, we CAN persevere through hardships.  We CAN do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

On Earth, we may not have much.  We may feel like a beaten and bruised underdog, always on the losing end of trials.  Yet, we can take heart in the victory that Christ has claimed, knowing full well that evil will be vanquished and sin will be no more when the Lord reigns supreme!  So take heart, my dear sisters, and trust in Him today.