The Master’s officially began yesterday, as 88 players teed off in hopes of becoming the next champion to have the honor of wearing the green jacket on Sunday evening. With pristine weather conditions, nearly half of the players in the tournament were able to shoot under par on Thursday, which should lead to exciting drama as we approach the weekend. Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, and Jon Rahm all sit atop the scoreboard at seven-under after 18 holes, but there are still plenty of talented players within striking distance. One name that should stand out on the leaderboard is Scottie Scheffler, the winner of last year’s tournament. Scheffler is currently tied for sixth, which puts him in a great position to defend his title as the tournament moves ahead. Before the start of this year’s tournament, ESPN.com released an article about Scheffler that focused on his journey to becoming one of the best players in the world. One of the central storylines of the ESPN article was Scheffler’s calm demeanor on the golf course, which he's been intentionally focusing on after having emotional swings that caused him problems during his amateur career. In the article, fellow PGA professional Doug Ghim commented on Scheffler, saying, “He's had so much success as a tour player because I feel he's done a great job managing his emotions in comparison to what he did in college. He was definitely very vocal about his feelings when we played in amateur golf. It's pretty interesting to see him so calm and collected now because that wasn't always the case.” For his part, Scheffler stated, “I always try to stay very calm and patient on the golf course. That's why you don't see me celebrate a bunch or do anything crazy or get real mad. I try and stay pretty even keel out there, and I think that's something that people have definitely noticed. I guess that's a good thing because that's kind of the way I want to be. I don't want to be going crazy one way or another.” When we think about handling hardship and adversity in our own lives, Scheffler’s attitude provides us with an important parallel as followers of Jesus. While playing “the course” of life, we're going to have our fair share of “good shots” and “mishits.” Through unforeseen circumstances, we can feel stuck in a metaphorical “sand trap” with no way out. So how are we supposed to keep calm and steady during those rough moments of life? Ultimately, our biggest challenge comes down to believing the things we say we believe. Romans 8:28 (ESV) is one of the most popular verses in the Bible: “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Take a second to think deeply about the truth contained in that verse. If you and I love God and are called according to His purpose, everything we go through in life is ultimately for our good. If we truly embrace this reality, I think it will help us remain calmer and steadier through the trials of life. After all, what do we have to legitimately complain about if everything we're dealing with is working for our good? The same can be said as we contemplate James 1:2-4 (NIV): “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Again, when we truly embrace that God uses our trials to build our character and make us more like Him, we recognize we don’t need to lose our cool. All of this is not to say we should be completely stoic or emotionless as believers. There are undoubtedly times when it's good and appropriate to express emotions such as joy, thanksgiving, and even grief. But taking time to consider how God actively uses even the worst things we experience to draw us closer to Himself...conform us to the image of Christ...and prepare us for eternity, helps us see our trials through a different lens and keep us calmer and more grounded. So today, let’s be intentional to meditate on the fact that God works all things for good in the lives of His people, and that He's using our temporary pain to prepare us for an eternal glory that far surpasses it all (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). I’m Matt Osborne and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for working all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Help me to truly believe You are working through the trials and difficulties I face in life, and to trust You through it all. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. What are some trials and circumstances that seem to fluster you the most in life?
2. Why do you think those circumstances present the greatest challenges to you?
3. How would an increased trust in God's sovereignty and goodness in the midst of trials impact the way you handle life's difficulties?
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