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David Goggins is a Retired Navy SEAL and the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training, Army Ranger School, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training. Goggins has completed more than seventy ultra-distance races, often placing in the top-five, and is a former Guinness World Record holder for completing 4,030 pull-ups in seventeen hours.
If there is a modern day individual who can speak to self induced physical suffering, I can't think of anyone who ranks higher. It is in these moments of extreme fatigue and pain that Goggins coined the phrase, "Many dreams die while suffering."
He is pointing out that we often have goals and aspirations that we take on without the requisite mental and physical fortitude to see them through to the end. We come up against roadblocks. Some are placed in our path by others but many are self-inflicted.
Goggins has another saying that goes hand in hand with suffering, he states that"the pain that you are willing to endure is measured by how bad you want it." You can only find your limits by testing them. In his world, the only easy day was yesterday. He does not set a goal.. he just goes until he can't go or give any more that day.
The pain that you are willing to endure is measured by how bad you want it. David Goggins
Suffering in the life of Jesus was not merely a physical or emotional ordeal but a profound spiritual journey and an act of divine love. His suffering, willingly embraced for the sake of humanity's redemption, continues to inspire Christians worldwide to find meaning in their own trials and tribulations.
For Jesus, suffering was not the end of the story. His crucifixion, while agonizing, was followed by the triumphant resurrection, signifying victory over sin and death. This offers a message of hope to believers, reminding them that suffering, no matter how intense, can be transformed into new life and eternal joy. Through the years as a coach, I have been inspired by players who are willing to go the extra mile. To push themselves beyond yesterday's limit. The effect of this has always been to raise the team's expectations.
I refer to these athletes as my "broken glass brothers". They are willing to walk over broken glass to achieve the objective. They don't see the glass but focus on what is on the other side. They are willing to pursue their dream of a state title while suffering to achieve it. Never in the course of six title game appearance and five victories did a team not face obstacles that most teams would have not pushed past.
How hard are we pushing daily to reach our physical, emotional and spiritual potential? When our dreams of today die through suffering, do we stop? Or, do we just recalibrate and use their death to catipult us toward reaching greater goals?
My prayer is that we never lose sight of Christ's example as there is no amount of suffering that equates to bearing the sins of all mankind. However, through his sacrifice we are all able to reconcile and be in His presence one day as though we have never sinned which is the penultimate dream.