"I love the sense of satisfaction that I get when I’ve done a swimming workout or race, and know that I gave my whole being and heart to God in every moment of the swim. It’s the best worship I can offer him."
More than conquerors
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31There are days when we feel that everything is against us! If you are a track athlete then everyone else in the race is against you! In team sport the opposition is against you. Then there are days when we feel that our team mates and training group, not to mention our coach seem to be against us.
Whatever Paul meant by the statement above, he certainly did not mean that no one was against him. Remember that he told the Corinthians “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea” etc (2 Corinthians 11:23ff) Paul knew a bit about problems and opposition.
What Paul is saying is that no matter who is against you, it doesn’t matter because God is on your side. In Romans 8:35 he adds: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” One can almost hear Paul giving a resounding “NO”.
Remember that neither injury nor illness nor defeat, nor disappointment nor failing to be selected can separate you from the love of Christ. (I don’t want this to sound trite or to suggest that injury, illness, defeat, disappointment or failing to be selected are unimportant – there are all very real and very important – but they cannot separate you from the love of Christ. Let that encourage you!