Quote

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen Keller

Real Life

New Zealand surf champion, Saffi Vette, has been surfing since she was a pre-schooler. Her Dad, a local surf legend, taught her as a youngster, later becoming her mentor and coach as she competed on the national and international circuit.

Vette was a talented sportsperson from a young age, doing well at any sport she had a go at. Sadly, Vette had a tough time at school due to dyslexia and instead of her sporting success making school a more enjoyable experience, it prompted bullying.

When Vette was only 19 years old, her hero, coach and father passed away from cancer. Initially she lost her passion for surfing as she mourned her Dad’s death but in time she once again competed and excelled at her sport. As Vette competed overseas, the challenge of ongoing costs when she received no public funding was at times monumental. Vette and her supporters did a great deal of fund raising and she was able to compete in the necessary competitions and achieve her lifelong goal of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Time and time again Vette overcame the challenges in front of her and she acknowledges that those experiences have made her “stronger, more determined and more resilient”.

It is a common human experience to want to side step hard times. Given the choice there would be very few people who would opt for the painful path through life instead of the easy one. However, life experience and the bible itself, shows us that character development mainly comes through the refining fire of difficulties. If we have never had to push through, we will not know how to persevere and if we have never been tested, we will not know the depth of our strength. While hardships are never fun, if we learn from them, they will take our character to a much stronger place.

Bible Verse

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

Prayer

Lord thank You for the gifts that come from the hard times and for how those gifts will help me in the future.

Author: Sarah Auld   |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley