Mike Trout is arguably one of the best baseball players of this century. Trout, a multi-time all-star, has been plagued by injuries over the last four years, causing him to miss many games for the Los Angeles Angels. In May 2017, Trout tore a thumb ligament sliding into second base headfirst. He returned thirty-nine games later, stole second, and slid headfirst again. After the game He said, “"I'm not changing the way I play,"[1]

A few days ago, Trout injured himself again. He tore his meniscus in his left knee. Not as confident as he was seven years ago, Trout, fighting back tears,  lamented, “"It's just frustrating," he said quietly, his eyes downcast. "But we'll get through it. ... I play the game hard, and (stuff) happens."[2] Trout remains resolute.

Unexpected injuries and disease bring a host of emotions—fear, loss, insecurity, and others. A whole set of emotions hit Pam and me as we sat in the doctor’s office and heard the initial cancer diagnosis. 

We have a choice—we can lament the issues this disease brings us, or we can like the apostle Paul and Mike Trout to some extent, play hard, get through it, and stay on the course God has for us.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul wrote about his “thorn in the flesh.” Many scholars guess what his thorn was, but Paul never mentions his exact ailment. He prayed three times for this thorn to disappear, but it didn’t. Instead, God told him,”My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God’s strength is perfected in weakness. Paul had a race to run (I Corinthians 9:24–27), and he urged Christians to run with discipline and purpose. He played the game hard. He looked to God instead of his “thorn.” Paul saw his thorn as a gift from God to develop him.

In Galatians 4:13, Paul brings up his thorn to the people of Galatia. He preached the gospel to these people and didn’t let his infirmity get in his way of delivering God’s message. He didn’t let his infirmity keep him from God’s plan and purposes. His example compels us to face our adversities head-on—whether it's cancer, injury, or any other trial—trusting that God's grace is sufficient.

Dealing with cancer and cancer treatments isn’t easy. I’ve found myself allowing my emotions to get the best of me. I’ve succumbed to fear, anger, and that feeling of “why me”? But, even at my lowest point, I remember Paul. He ran the race despite his thorn. While Satan wanted to destroy Paul and his ministry, God planned to develop Paul’s faith through hardship. Paul responded and we should, too, by knowing that God’s strength is perfected in our weakness. He will give us the strength when we need it. He will keep us balanced on and on track. Bible commentator William Barclay wrote, “Note that it never struck him to turn back. Even when his body was aching, Paul never stopped driving himself forward as an adventurer for Christ.”[3]