In 2004, actors Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn starred in what soon became an instant classic. The comedy is “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” In this movie, a successful gym owner aims to take over a failing gym named “Average Joes.” In an effort to save their gym, Average Joe’s owner gathers a team of average joes to compete in a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament and secure enough money to ward off a hostile takeover of their gym.
In one scene, Average Joe’s gym owner, Peter LaFluer, recruits a quirky, ex-dodgeball legend to train his team. They soon discover that this legend has some unique methods required to bring desired results. One of these methods is where we get the quote,
“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”
Generally, this saying would seem nonsensical when applying it to a real life setting, as he did. But philosophically, this quote may hold a surprising quantity of truth. There are some hard trials that will come in life. Whether physical, spiritual, mental, etc. They are bound to come.
It’d be wrong to say that hard trials directly make future trials “easier.” They do not. When you have hard things coming at you and attacking you in life, you develop discerning attributes. One of these important attributes first and foremost is patience (Romans 5:3; James 1:3).
Having tough obstacles that challenge your faith, points us to the fact that we must rely on God because we in ourselves are frail. Therefore, when we rely on God, this means that we must rely on His timing as well. As a result, we grow patient. In patience, we allow God to refine us into purer vessels of gold and silver, uprooting us from being vessels of wood and earth (2 Timothy 2:20).
When we rely on God, the next attribute we grow in is experience. We experience that as we wait
on God’s timing, live in His faithfulness, and experience God’s grace daily. Consequently, we have experienced seeing how He works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The emphasis here is on what God deems good not what we may deem good. It takes experience and reflection on His Holy Word to know.
If we know that God is going to see us through, ultimately in a Heavenly inheritance, then naturally we would develop an unashamed hope as a result of the above attributes (Romans 5:5; Romans 8:18).
I say all this to say this. Life may be hard now or may soon test your faith. Perspective is key. Know that wrenches in your plans, prepare you for the latter obstacles to come and God in His goodness allows these things-
Ultimately for a better purpose.
Love this and thankful that God is there for me when life throw me wrenches!