Golf Mishaps and God’s Grace: A New Year’s Perspective

On New Year’s Day, I played in a “for fun” golf tournament. It was more of an outing with a few elements of a traditional competition. I invited a friend from church to join me, and we were partnered with two players we had never met before.

I wrestled with how good I needed to play in order to either help carry the team or not be embarrassed.

I’ve never claimed to be a great golfer—just someone who enjoys the game and has played a fair bit. The challenge, though, is that I occasionally hit some good shots, which tricks me into thinking I can really play well consistently.

It was a cold morning, and since our tee time (start time) was later, I decided to get a large bucket of range balls to warm up. As I practiced, my shots started to straighten out and travel a modest yet decent distance. I felt optimistic about how the day would unfold.

The first couple of holes went relatively well with some decent shots. But soon, everything unraveled.

Adding to the chaos, a few holes in, the sole of my golf shoe came off! While I can’t definitively blame my poor performance on this, the timing cannot be ignored.

Shot after shot, putt after putt, hole after hole—my game spiraled downward. My ball flew into the woods and the creek. My club slipped in my hands, leading to shanked shots. The frustration mounted.

I don’t play often enough to get genuinely upset about bad games, but what I found most frustrating, as I shared with my friend (a much better golfer), was not knowing how to fix my mistakes. The inability to even identify a solution was the real source of my irritation.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes, “But he said to me, “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.”

Paul was speaking about his own struggles—ones he wished God would remove. While we don’t know exactly what Paul’s “thorn” was, it’s clear he faced significant challenges. Instead of growing bitter, Paul chose to rely on God’s grace.

When we feel strong and self-reliant, we often believe we don’t need God’s help. We don’t see the need for a Savior because we think we can manage on our own. But the truth is, in our moments of weakness, Christ’s power is most evident. He sustains, guides, lifts, and carries us when we cannot stand on our own.

While my golf game doesn’t quite rise to the level of life’s more serious weaknesses, it serves as a small reminder. There are many areas in life where we think we’re competent but fall short. We all need guidance and help—help only He can provide.

As we step into this New Year, let’s remember to rely on His strength, even in our moments of weakness, so that His greatness is revealed.

Anyway, I was just thinking...