The discus thrower

May the God of all grace,… after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. – 1 Peter 5:10

A Scottish athlete in the 19th century made an iron discus based on a description he read in a book. What he didn’t know was that the discus used in official competition was made of wood with only an outer rim of iron. His was solid metal and weighed three or four times as much as those being used by other discus throwers.

According to author John Eldredge, the man marked out the record distance in a field near his home and trained day and night to match it. For years he labored until he could break the record. Then he took his iron discus to England for his first competition.

When he arrived at the games, he was handed the official discus. He easily set a new record, a distance far beyond those of his competitors. He remained the uncontested champion for many years. This man trained under a heavy burden and became better for it.

When we are given a heavy burden to bear, we need to learn to bear it in Jesus’ strength and for His sake. Whatever the burden or suffering, God will use it to "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle" us, as 1 Peter 5:10 says.

Our burdens can make us better than we ever imagined – stronger, more patient, more courageous, more gentle, and more loving than we could otherwise be. – David H. Roper

Without my trials and hardships

I would never know the way

That You turn burdens into blessings

With every passing day. – Oglesby

READ: 1 Peter 5:6-10

Today’s burden can strengthen you for tomorrow.