Recalibrate Warriors

Abraham Lincoln

Many Americans think of Abraham Lincoln as one of the greatest presidents in the history of the country. He was under profound stress to keep a coalition of political factions together long enough to win the war between the states. Few people realize that much of the north did not want to go to war, that in NY city at one point 50,000 people rioted against the war.

Lincoln’s first series of generals were no match for the south’s leaders. Outmanned sometimes 10 to 1, the Confederates still won most of the first battles and kept the Union Army tangled up. With mounting losses, under tremendous political pressure, Lincoln somehow still managed to keep it together and lead the union to victory.

In this, many see Lincoln as a true hero. Not me. In his victorious leadership of the north, I see a man who was simply executing foundational principals he had learned throughout his life up to that point. You see, Abraham Lincoln was an achiever. He believed in the diligent application of one’s gifts, interests and talents toward a worthwhile objective. Setting his sights early in life to be a lawyer and businessman, Lincoln ran into adversity many times.  In 1832 he ran for the IL Congress and lost. From 1834-44, Lincoln experienced numerous business and political setback including both personal and business bankruptcy. Finally in 1845 Lincoln won an election, then went back into business and failed again. Then in 1855 he lost in a campaign for Senate, and in 1856, Lincoln lost in a campaign for VP. Finally, in 1860 Lincoln won the Presidency of the United States, but with only 33% of the population behind him. Most people voted for the other several candidates.

So, Lincoln didn’t rise to the occasion that the war between the states presented him; rather, he was the perfect man for that historic job, because he had faced so much failure, so much adversity in his past – yet never fell into the despair of curling up into the fetal position and just going away. In fact, I would argue that Lincoln could never have become the President that so many admire today had he never faced the severe, chronic life challenges that confronted him for the 28 years that preceded his presidency.

What about you? Do you ever feel like giving up? Like life has hit you so hard that it’s just not worth it, anymore. I’ve certainly felt that way. Having gone through a divorce, the death of a child, unexpected business implosion that destroyed my financial security. Or the day my doctor told me – a former world class runner for Nike, an NCAA 3 time All American, that I would never be able to run again. Ya, sometimes life can be really cruel and make us want to just give up and crawl in a hole.

But it is SO important that we understand that it is precisely BECAUSE of those life challenges that we grow into something of even greater value to God’s purposes. Satan would have us despair. Our God and Creator would have us trust Him to provide for us and set us on a new path. Don’t despair – recalibrate – and watch what God does with your life.