My family loves sports – baseball, football, basketball – you name it. Perhaps it’s the competition we thrive on. Whatever the reason, I’ve always admired athletes (perhaps because I’m not one). I thought about our history for love of competition this week when I read a story about Gail Devers. Never heard of her?
Gail Devers was an Olympian in the Olympic Games at Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004, competing in the 60 meter and 100 meter sprint and hurdles. In 1988 she began feeling sick. It took two years for doctors to diagnose her with Graves Disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes an overactive thyroid. It was treatable with radiation, but that caused more problems. Large blisters developed on her foot and walking was difficult. Devers was rushed to the hospital and doctors discussed amputating her feet. Gail was one sick young lady.
But these obstacles didn’t stop Gail. She resigned to do whatever it took to be the best she could and set her mind on returning to the track. She qualified for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, where she took gold in the 100-meter dash in a photo finish, but hit the final hurdle in her favorite event, the 100-meter hurdles, and finished fifth. In the Atlanta 1996 games, she once again won gold in the 100-meter dash and in the 4×100-meter relay.
In a 2013 interview, Devers said: “In my race, there’s 10 hurdles, but in life, there is always a hurdle. There is always something you have to get over. Sometimes we fall, sometimes we stumble, but we can’t stay down. We can’t allow life to beat us down. Everything happens for a reason, and it builds character in us, and it tells us what we are about and how strong we really are when we didn’t think we could be that strong.”
I admire those who face adversity head-on. When I read Gail’s story I immediately thought of Joni Earecksen Tada, who, in 1967 became paralyzed from a diving accident. She could have given up after the accident, but nothing has stopped Joni. She has led a worldwide ministry helping literally thousands over the last 40 years, while authoring 48 books, and sending out daily devotionals.
All this to say, if you believe your circumstances have left you without hope, you are wrong. God is bigger than any problem we may face. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! available at Amazon.com Learn more about Cary John Efurd Ministries by liking our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CJEMinistries) and downloading our FREE mobile app (get.theapp.co) from App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, allow notifications to keep you up to date on what’s happening in Cary John Efurd Ministries. Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com. Feel free to comment on her blog, The Second Mile, at www.debbyefurd.com .
Tagged: scripture
