Boot Camp Graduation- Round 3

Yesterday I finished my third round of Boot Camp. At the completion of each cycle we undergo a graduation challenge. In the past this has encompassed some type of obstacle course with a series of challenges. Yesterday's finale was no different. Except for a few things. The first is that Greg came this time to watch. It meant a lot to me and in my heart was symbolic of the obstacles we have fought together to overcome this year. Because he was there he was able to take a few photos while I was completing the course. This one is my favorite.They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here what this one says to me:

Any obstacle can be overcome with faith. 1. Specifically, Faith in God. Faith is athletic training for the soul. It requires believing that God would never set a challenge before you that he didn't already know that you had the potential to succeed. After completing 12 weeks of boot camp, every one of us had the ability to succeed in the graduation challenge. Why? Because weeks and months of smaller but incremental challenges that had already been overcome had developed the necessary muscle to complete the task.
The same is true in our walk with God. When you exert faith to believe what his word says is true about his character and his love in smaller areas of your life, it gives your faith spiritual muscle to rely on him when the bigger challenges come. God only allows the challenges period because he knows they will give you the ability to accomplish bigger tasks down the line. If you don't do the work of believing in him, you never get to experience the exhilaration of seeing him deliver at the finish line.

2. Although faith in God is required, I still have to play my part. Overcoming obstacles is more than just believing. It's doing. It is not simply enough to believe that God's word is true. You have to demonstrate that belief in your actions. As James tells us, faith without works is dead.
When I looked at the bulletin board that showed us on graduation day what challenges lay ahead, I had to admit for a moment I was anxious. It wasn't going to be enough to believe that I could do it. I was going to have put some muscle and effort into it to make it happen. But when training, belief, and action all come together and the challenge is successfully overcome...you never feel more alive than at that moment. That's what the scripture talks about when it says that God just doesn't want to give us life, but life more abundant.

I'm so glad for what boot camps have taught me; not only for what they taught me about myself, but what they have shown me about the physical challenges in life and how they mirror our spiritual ones. I'm ready for the next round, even though the obstacles may get tougher. Why? Because the reward is greater.