God's Coaching #282

God's Coaching #282

The Ford Ironman World Championship attracts only the finest athletes to compete in Kona, Hawaii. Rajesh Durbal fit that description. At the 2010 competition, Rajesh completed the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike ride, and the 26.2-mile marathon in just over 14 hours. He was the 1,460th person to cross the finish line (1,800 people competed). And, oh yeah, Rajesh was a triple amputee. He was born with a congenital deformity in his legs and right arm. When he was one, his legs were amputated. Later he had surgery to replace bones in his partial right arm.

But these physical difficulties never stopped Rajesh from competing in life. One of his elementary-school teachers wrote a book about Rajesh and his ability to do activities. In high school, he was called names. He didn’t let that get him down. He focused his energies on skiing and track. He became a world-record holder in the 100-meter sprint. Rajesh started competing in shorter triathlons in 2009. But he loved a challenge and wanted to do one of the most difficult triathlons in the world—which he did when he completed the Hawaii Ironman.

What’s the Score?

Rajesh said he nearly drowned in the swim as other competitors swam over him. In the bike race, he had to hang on extra hard with his one good hand because the winds were so bad. Running may have been the hardest as his prosthetic legs would get going on downhill portions of the course, and he’d have a hard time slowing down. In spite of these dangers and physical obstacles, Rajesh never gave up. He poured ice down his back to cool off and just kept going.

We all have physical obstacles that we must overcome. Maybe we’re not the fastest runner or strongest athlete. Perhaps we’re considered too skinny or overweight. Whatever our limitations are, we’ll probably never know what it would be like to grow up a triple amputee. God created us as he intended, and he doesn’t make mistakes. No matter what we have to overcome, we can have confidence that God was in control when we were created, and he’s in control now.

On the Ball

What bothers you about your physical abilities or appearance? Thank God for making you exactly as you are. Then ask him for the power and patience to live with and/or to overcome your physical challenges.

Coach’s Comment

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:13-14