Facing the Giants!

As I embarked on my new season of ministry as youth leader in May 2018, after our kickoff to our new Wednesday night youth class and summer bible study series, this is what I shared with the adults to pray about: Sure there will be fun activities and outings to come, but I pray we help each other grow in the Lord. This journey is about chosing faith over fear and failure. Knowing there are prayers of others going on behind the scenes, that are NOT in vain. When school starts back, our youth may face "giants” of moving from elementary school, to middle school, or to high school. Also, I think of the students who are finishing high school or college and now face life decisions of jobs, careers, and additional study and training. Some will leave home for the first time, facing the “giants” of making personal choices and decisions that will affect them for years to come. We must be in special prayer for the youth as they face the “giants” of life and daily living. We, as adults, are in a position to be a positive Christian influence and source of encouragement to these youth as we face the "giants" together.

"Facing the Giants”. This Christian movie is about a high school football coach who goes through some hard times – both personally and professionally – and then decides to hand it all over to God. After praying, this is the first bible study I knew I wanted to embark on as youth leader at New life Assembly of God, for our Wednesday night youth class.

* Have you ever felt you were doing the death crawl? I know that I have – it is when you have exhausted every fiber of your being, lose hope, and want to quit. Do you ever feel that you are at your absolute limits? That your trials are getting heavier and heavier with every weight or trial added to you? The scene that impacted the students the most, after we took a few weeks to watch the movie, was the death crawl scene. This week was the start of our break down studies and the movie clip we used to discuss wholehearted devotion to God. Death Crawl: The team had been losing and they knew nothing would change. Coach Taylor noticed their losing attitude and especially in the team captain Brock. Coach Taylor decided to make Brock do the death crawl. *

To do the death crawl the person must carry a player on his back while moving forward on his hands and feet. The person with the heavy load cannot allow his knees to touch the ground. Coach Taylor took this exercise one step further and blindfolded Brock so he could not see how far he had to go, become overwhelmed, and give up. While blindfolded, Brock, took each step it became even harder and the load became even heavier. Sound familiar with your trials? The coach sensing Brock wanting to quit, get’s down on his hands and knees, and continually yells out “don’t quit”! “You can do this”! “Ten more steps Brock!” ”Five more steps”! “Don’t quit Brock!” “You can do this;” Coach Taylor continued to yell out! When Brock could no longer go, he collapsed with the 160 pound team mate on his back!  When Brock looked up Coach Taylor told him he had just done the death crawl 100 yards! The coach only asked him to go 50 yards but knew he could do more! So what does football and the death crawl have to do with the trials we have to carry! A lot! God knows that you have a lot more endurance in you than you think. Just like Coach Taylor’s belief in Brock.

1. Don’t Quit! (we had 2 students who were  encouragers and one student who tried the death crawl several times as she didn't want to quit). No matter how hard, no matter how hopeless we cannot quit! The movie scene sends out a huge message to not quit, even when everything seems all uphill while riding a bicycle, or, like doing a death crawl.

2. We need encouragement while doing the death crawl. (So we later did a role play of God encouraging us with 2 of the students). Ask for encouragement when your load is so heavy and you can’t go any further. What got Brock through this death crawl was his coach’s encouragement. We all need a cheerleader to encourage us along the way. Ask God for encouragement. God is our biggest cheerleader. God is nearer to us when we hurt, and when we are suffering.

Psalms 34:18 - “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalms 46:1-2 -“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

Psalms 48:14 - “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”

Psalms 55:22 - “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”

3. Be willing to carry your brother or sister on your back while they struggle. * The death crawl is also an example of someone carrying someone else on their back as Brock did with the 160 pound teammate on his back. Do all you can to help those who are going through horrific trials. Encourage them as coach Taylor did to Brock. You may even have to carry them for awhile by listening, praying for them, and just being there. We are encouraged in Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”

The losing underdog team, in “Facing the Giants”, the Eagles, went on to become champions because they did not quit when it seemed so hopeless. The beat the team whose mascot was the giants.

Isaiah 40:28-31 - “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even YOUTHS grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like EAGLES; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

You too will be a champion if you just keep going, especially while you are doing the death crawl. Don’t forget your source of help and strength: God.

Now that we've finished watching the Facing the Giants movie on Wednesday nights, I am moving into the individual studies for the movie. Study #1 was "Wholehearted" devotion study or apathy vs. excellence. I love the youths willingness and excitement to try the death crawl, and I loved even more that they understood the reasoning behind it... how it is a perfect example for us to give our all and best when serving God, and not quitting when it gets hard. After a few tries they realized just how hard it was but wanted to keep trying, we even had to get 3 year old out of the nursery and in on the excitement, and he was happy to participate. Looking forward to the rest of our summer studies and activities. Thankful that God answered the prayers of more than just one, by putting me in a youth leader ministry position when His timing was perfect and ready and He knew I was ready... everything before this season was but preparation! ♡ #summer2018 #newlifeassembly #youthleader #youthbiblestudy #somefuntoo #newFaith #ministryFlow #Iwannamakeadifference #learningandgrowingInChrist #wholehearteddevotion