Teens

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The Down But Not Out Rule
By Dan Blankenship



A wise man once told me, “The fella’ that won’t be beat, can’t be beat.” Now even though this wise man was a 5th Degree Black Belt and the type of person people don’t want to mess with, he was not talking about physical confrontations when he made this statement. He was talking about life. And there is simply no doubt about the fact that everyone suffers some knockdowns in the boxing ring of life.

Teens experience a great deal of frustrating setbacks, from performing badly on an algebra quiz to having that not so perfect date. Everyone deals with failure a little bit differently, but it is important to view setbacks as nothing more than that, a temporary bump in the road that requires a refocusing and reevaluating of ones commitment to finish the journey or set a new and more productive course.

What is a definitely not an option when situations and events knock you down is wallowing in despair. It accomplishes nothing to become stagnant with sorrow. This only delays the inevitable outcome – one must get up, dust off the dirt from the fall, and begin again.

Combine the fact that there really is no choice but to get back in the game and that we have the greatest power in universe in our corner representing us – Jesus Christ, and it becomes a little easier to recuperate from our trials and tribulations.

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV) reminds us, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Of course the author of Hebrews was talking about walking the path Jesus had mapped out for us, but if we are living a Christ-centered life, we have still been called to have confidence in God to be with us as struggle to get back on our feet.

They say time heals all wounds, but I say time spent talking one on one with Jesus heals wounds faster. So the next time life seems to land so many punches you feel dizzy, try focusing on the “down but not out rule”. Say it out loud if need be. And then meditate on the face of Jesus greeting you in your boxing ring corner as you take a short rest on that wooden stool. But remember, when the bell rings, you have no real choice but to walk back to the center of the ring and give it your best shot. Only God knows the scheduled rounds, so we must fight on to the finish.

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