Often times we are faced with adversity or obstacles in our path in life. Everyone’s trials, although similar in many ways, are unique to that person. We can never look at someone else’s suffering and how he or she handles it and lay judgment of the strength of their faith. Each one of us deals with our challenges in our own distinctive way as God deals with us in His unique manner.

When we look at the sports and fitness worlds we see many examples of athletes who face challenges that seem insurmountable. Some overcome those tests and enjoy the taste of worldly victory while others fail and seemingly experience the agony of defeat. Should we look at the ones who don’t accomplish what they set out to as faithless failures? Should we conclude that those that fall short of overcoming an obstacle as well have a lack of faith? It is not always our faith or lack hereof that determines our outcome. Sometimes God has a different plan for us than what we, as mortals, consider victory.

If all we had to do was have faith in Christ and believe we can change the outcome to every circumstance in life, we would all be healed of disease; wealthy in our possessions; successful in all we do; and content in every relationship we have. That is just not the reality of life nor is it the reality of faith.

As a person with faith beyond understanding and one with a powerful commitment to Christ it would seem that I would be walking a life that allows me to be victorious in whatever I choose…or would it? I have heard so many times that you can pray your way to healing and victory. I couldn’t agree more, as long as that healing or that victory is God’s will for your life. But what if it’s not?!

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006 at the age of 47, I was a healthy bodybuilder and athlete. Initially I could not grasp why God would allow me to have MS. I was faithful. I was a former youth pastor. I was obedient to Christ and committed to my walk with Him. And, as time went by, I believed God would use me as an example of a miraculous healing of this incurable disease. So I prayed and I prayed and I prayed. But God had a different plan and I was not, by the outward appearances, victorious over my circumstance.

It was not my lack of faith or that I did something wrong or that I wasn’t strong enough to overcome my obstacles in life that I was diagnosed and later not healed of MS. It was that the Lord was going to use me in quite a different way with His plan and not mine. I would overcome my challenge in His way not man’s way. And once I embraced that fact with the same love and passion I embrace Him, I was good to go!

Now I am moving mountains with Christ in my battle against MS and helping people around the world to do the same through my cause, the MS Fitness Challenge, www.msfitnesschallenge.org. I am touching lives for Christ with my book, David’s Goliath www.davidlyonsms.com. And I am fighting MS to show the world that with the power of Christ in your life ALL things are possible.

So, don’t judge the faith of another by what the surface shows. We are not all willed by God to be healed or to win the trophy as a confirmation of His hand on our lives. The Lord rewards our faith in all different ways and in many inimitable blessings. Some are more expected than others. Walk a mile in my shoes and you will understand faith, hope and victory in a whole new light.