Not Holding Back

The Bible speaks to God's purpose in our trials - the way we handle adversity can either drive us toward the Lord or drive us away.  If we are open to allowing God to work through our suffering, we can find that He provides joy and hope in the midst of it.  Perhaps you have heard or read a testimony of someone who turned to the Lord in his or her trouble; perhaps that testimony is yours.  James 1 (ESV) says:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This weekend at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater Scott Hamilton will be hosting his annual Scott Hamilton and Friends fundraising event for his Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, combining big names in skating and music.

It's a great reminder that the now-67-year-old skater is still around, and has trusted the Lord through multiple cancer battles.  

A Movieguide article recounts Hamilton's struggles: First diagnosed with cancer in 1997. Brain tumors in 2004, 2010, and 2016, the last of which he did not have removed.

The article includes comments from a People Magazine article, in which Scott said, "Life is great...I’m living fully, living healthy, living without restriction.”

And, he's living to serve God and other cancer patients.  He says, “I mean, I’ve been given endlessly. I was an unintended, unwanted, unexpected pregnancy, and I was given life,” adding, “I was put up for adoption and I was given parents and my parents sacrificed unconditionally to me to make sure that I had everything I need in order to prepare for my life on my own. And they did that sacrificially and endlessly…all I can do is now is give back in every way I possibly can."

That 1997 cancer diagnosis that took him off the ice essentially took Scott Hamilton into the arms of Jesus.  A Christian Post article from 2012 related that after surviving that bout with cancer, Hamilton re-evaluated his purpose.  The article stated:

It was at that moment in his life that he met his wife, Tracie, who brought him to church.

"She took me to a minister, a man named Ken Durham. And the first thing he said to me, which was extraordinary was, he goes, 'You have to understand that Christianity is a faith of history. These things actually happened.' And I go, 'OK, that's a good starting-off point.'"

Hamilton and Tracie married and had a son. But another hardship came his way when he discovered he had a brain tumor.

When he told his wife, she took his hands and started to pray. "And it was in that moment I knew where I was going to put everything... my trust, my faith, everything." Hamilton called it the most powerful moment in his life.

Those quotes were from his I Am Second video.  The tumor came back six years after having been removed.  But, Hamilton said, "I understand that through a strong relationship with Jesus you can endure anything. I just learned that the only true disability in life is a bad attitude."  He related: "God is there to guide you through the tough spots. God was there every single time, every single time."

Every single time.  And, Scott Hamilton actually looked at that original tumor, with which he was born, as a gift, because it caused his growth to be restricted, and that drove him into...skating.

So much to consider here as we enter into the week of Thanksgiving.  And, certainly Scott Hamilton can be thankful for what God has done in his life.  He is showing that through His desire to help others. The road has certainly not been easy, but through trial has come perspective, and he has learned about God's faithfulness, in using his trouble for His glory.

When we face adversity, we can make the choice: to allow the Lord to do His work through us and accomplish His purposes or to resist the work that God wants to do.  We must maintain an open heart and a humble spirit, so that we can develop the dependence that He desires for us to have.  Through our dependence, we can see and experience the glory of God.