In praise of the sports metaphor – three

to be honest, i’m not much of boxing fan…although one of my guilty pleasures is to sneak a few looks at  ultimate fighting, when nobody’s looking!

there’s a term that’s unique to boxing that i’ve been thinking about this afternoon.  when a boxer is being beaten and his opponent is pummeling him, he is forced back on his feet and pushed against the ropes.  when his back is against the ropes, he is in a total defensive posture…taking hits, ducking jabs, and receiving shots from the enemy.  if the boxer has anything left, he usually leans on the ropes to muster courage or strength to make it to the end of the round and get back to fight again.

it’s in this experience that we get the metaphor, on the ropes.  it means that place in our journey where the enemy has us backed up, taking his shots, and feeling like we’re getting ready to go down for the count.  it’s that point where we see little hope, little help, and quitting seems like the only option.

i’ve felt like i’ve been on the ropes a few times in my life.  the enemy was getting the best of me through discouragement, sorrow, fear, guilt or failure.  i have wanted to give up.  when i have be on the ropes, i have held on to this truth that comes from the pen (and the life) of the apostle paul:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

if you are on the ropes today, it is my prayer that his grace will be sufficient for you.

#boxing #difficulty #grace