Every year during training camp and the preseason, coaches and fans are excited to see what rookies can do. Most of them need time to adapt to the speed of the game and adjust to the physicality of each play. Oftentimes, rookies either hit a wall or battle nagging injuries at some point in the season.

Baltimore Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, made this candid observation about rookies:

“One thing I’ve noticed, guys coming out of college aren’t as callused up as they used to be. There’s a certain type of ‘in shape,’ certain type of football fitness, certain type of callousness – muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments – that kind of toughen up. They callus up a little bit, and you can practice all day and run all day. Then our guys coming in right now, most of them don’t have that.”

In contrast, Harbaugh described his veteran tight ends by saying: “They’re not batting an eye. Why? Because they’re callused up because they know how to practice because their bodies are just tougher. There’s a physical toughness to it. They’re mentally tough.”

Of course, football players must be tough, so it makes sense that those with built-up calluses from rigorous practice, intense training, and challenging experiences can handle more.

This illustration of toughness profoundly parallels our spiritual lives. When we go through battles and our faith is tested, God uses those experiences to build up our spiritual toughness. The more we rely on God’s strength during difficult times of “practice” and “training,” the more valuable “calluses” we develop.

James 1:3 (AMP) explains, “Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].”

Although it’s difficult to endure “training camp” in our lives, we can trust and even celebrate that something positive is happening within us.

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT) offers us this encouragement: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

As we desire to deepen and strengthen our faith in Jesus so we can do the work of the Lord, we must experience whatever is required to gain spiritual toughness and become more like Him.

We learn that He is trustworthy, faithful, and empowering as each trial prepares us and develops us for the next trial as we grow and change in unique ways.

Today, rather than being spiritually soft and sitting on the sidelines, let’s embrace the challenges in front of us…knowing that God is using them for our good and His purposes.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for using the hard times in my life to toughen me up spiritually. Help me to bring You glory as You use these challenges to build my faith and prepare me to handle even more. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.