Sharpened To Swing The Hammer

At the time I’m writing this, I am just about done with my first semester in college. While there are still plenty of lessons to be learned, I feel like I’ve settled in quite nicely. Moving in during the summer definitely helped. I know my way around. I’ve met lots of people. And most excitingly, I am right in the middle of my first year as a college football player. But despite everything I’ve had going on, I’m undoubtedly the most proud of the growth I’ve made as a person. I feel focused and very close to God. And above all, I feel like I’ve found true peace. Yet, even so, the challenge I’ve battled the most is learning how to protect it. 

I’ve made a lot of efforts to better myself throughout the course of this year. And while I haven’t always been perfect, I’ve definitely found my rhythm. I’ve had control over my emotions, and I’ve prioritized myself, and I feel like I’ve continuously made leaps and bounds because of it. However, I’ve recently noticed moments of struggle and inconsistency. They aren’t exponential, but they’re enough to catch my attention. And while some of it has to do with me managing my busy schedule, other moments feel internally rooted. And a recent moment of weakness highlighted a chink in the armor. 

Everything I’ve done has been driven by my faith in God. And through his guidance, I’ve tried my best to learn from my mistakes and use hardship as a tool. Personally, I believe every bump in the road holds value. I believe that God allows us to stumble in order for us to blossom. To me, there is no difference between “adversity” and “blessings” because they both inevitably lead to greater things. But that’s only true if we use these opportunities the right way. 

Here’s the thing. God uses our hardships as a way to sharpen us. Strain is the only thing that leads to true success. But success can only be obtained by those who have sharpened their minds and their souls. By taking advantage of the hard times, we allow God’s plan to shape us into who we are meant to be. There’s no question that suffering is a part of life. The ups and downs are the moments that build us, not the end result. But I feel like there’s more to this story. It goes deeper than just learning from our mistakes and bouncing back from hard times. I believe there is a very specific transformation we must undergo in order to find what we’re looking for. 

The distance between Heaven and Hell is measured on a scale beyond human comprehension. The idea of paradise and solitary torture are ultimately what drive Christians to be better. It doesn’t get any more black and white. But I propose another perspective. Perhaps there is something more that keeps us from taking the next step and connecting the dots. It’s a blockade I myself ran into. To me, eternal life and endless suffering are separated by just a measuring stick. More specifically, 12 to 14 inches. The same distance that separates the head and the heart. And while it seems minute, I believe that, for some people, the distance between the two continues to grow every day. 

Our minds and our hearts are constantly at war with each other. What we believe is right versus what we want causes strain. A strain that can pull us too far in either direction if we’re not careful. And while I believe perfect balance can be achieved, it’s also a privilege that requires discipline. From a religious standpoint, fighting the temptations to indulge in instant gratification leads to positivity. Giving into the now instead of thinking of the later can be dangerous, even to the point that we cause friction in our relationship with God. But from a much more objective perspective, I think this same idea can be applied into our everyday lives. 

This is the battle I have been facing. Trying to juggle the desires of the mind and heart. And honestly, it seems like a simple fix. We have to have self-control and remember the goals we’re chasing. But at the same time, it feels much more complicated. Pursuing change and chasing greatness requires extreme mental and emotional fortitude. And while there are tools that we can find amongst the struggles we face, if we aren’t focused on applying those tools into our lives, then a connection will never be made. The connection that brings our minds and our hearts closer together. The connection that ends the internal battle and frees us from the chains that hold us down. God can unlock the doors that lead us to our destination and give us the opportunity to thrive. But if we can’t find the strength to chase what is good rather than what feels good, then we will never progress.

Yes, growth is uncomfortable. But we need to be brought into deep waters in order to find change. We have to meet the roadblocks head on and brace for impact. There is no way around difficulty. And if we choose to run from it, then we will never grow into the people we’re meant to be.

In the end, the only thing ever standing in your way is you. The things you pray for lie amongst the struggles you run from. But even so, you will never be able to see it if you can’t find peace between the desires of your heart and the wisdom of your mind. 

This may seem like a lot to process, and while I agree to a certain extent, I also believe it’s fairly simple. God has the ability to bring us peace, but he also has the ability to sharpen us. No matter what difficulties we face, what adversity we run into, or what lessons we need to learn, he always strives to sharpen us. But no matter what we take away from these moments, it’s meaningless if we aren’t walking down the right path. And the only way to clear the fog is to align our minds and our hearts. To face the desires that combat what we know is right. To turn away from the temptations that keep us from making valid decisions. Until the only thing that remains is a better version of ourselves. Sharpened to close the gap between our current state and the finish line. Sharpened by God to swing the hammer.  

E.C. Ronning