The Legend of Zelda series doesn’t typically hold our hands and guide us through every step of our journey, but when we acquire a new tool such as the slingshot or boomerang we’re forced to “practice” with it before we’re permitted to move forward into areas where proficiency with it will be required. While nobody truly enjoys practice, these brief training interludes ensure we are fully trained in the use of these items before returning to the overworld, where far less forgiving targets await us. Learning the subtle nuances of the slingshot in practice prepares us for situations when our lives will depend on it… because the time is coming when it will.

There are many seasons in our lives when we may feel like we aren’t moving forward or even accomplishing anything of significance, but these times aren’t painfully pointless pauses in our game… they are practice. In our Heavenly Father’s infinite grace, He doesn’t permit us to advance to battles that require skills that we haven’t fully developed yet, so He sends us on smaller quests to practice with them… at times, He even uses the already planned attacks of our adversaries to cultivate them. Don’t lose heart if today feels like another boringly painful practice session… these are the places where our skills with wielding our shield of faith are fully forged.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-3

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  1 Samuel 17:33-35, 37

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