Struggling Forward: The Battle Within and Without

Theme: Struggling Forward: The Battle Within and Without 

Col. 1:29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.  

Col 2:1  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 

Thought:

There’s a moment in every round of disc golf when the struggle becomes real. Maybe it’s the mental game—trying to shake off a bad hole. Maybe it’s the physical grind—walking hills that feel steeper than they did a few years ago. Maybe it’s the quiet pressure of wanting to finish well. 

Whatever form it takes, the struggle is part of the game. 

It’s also part of life. And it’s definitely part of ministry. 

Paul understood this deeply. In Colossians 1:29, he says he “toils” and “struggles,” but the word he uses—agonizomai—points to an internal battle. It’s the root of our word agony. It describes emotional tension, the weight of responsibility, and the inward fight to stay faithful when pressure mounts. Paul uses this same imagery when he talks about athletes striving for a crown (1 Cor. 9:25), or when he speaks of believers wrestling in prayer (Col. 4:12; Rom. 15:30). 

This is the mental game of ministry—the unseen wrestling match inside the heart. 

But Paul doesn’t stop there. As he moves into chapter 2, he shifts to another word: agon—a term for outward conflict, the physical contest of the arena. He uses it when he invites the Philippians to share in his conflict (Phil. 1:30) and when he urges Timothy to fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12). 

This is the external struggle—the visible, exhausting, real‑world push forward. 

Both battles matter. Both are unavoidable. And both require intentionality. 

When you step onto a disc golf course, you don’t drift through the round. You show up on purpose. You contend with the course, the obstacles, the competition, and your own limitations. That’s exactly what Paul is describing in Colossians 2:1. He is entering the arena—wrestling, fighting, enduring—not for applause, but for the good of others. 

He struggles so that believers might grow into maturity in Christ. 

And here’s the hope tucked inside all of this: 

Paul doesn’t struggle in his own strength.   

He struggles “with all His (God's) energy that He powerfully works within me (Paul).” 

Your struggles—mental, emotional, physical—are real. But so is the power of Christ working in you. The same strength that sustained Paul is available to you today. 

So forget what lies behind. Press forward. Step onto the course of life with intention. And trust that the One who called you is the One who energizes you to keep going. 

Relection #1

Where do you most feel the “internal struggle” Paul describes — the emotional or mental battle to stay faithful under pressure? 

Reflection #2

What physical or outward struggles are you facing right now, and how might God be inviting you to endure them with purpose rather than discouragement? 

Meditate on these things as you go throw to the glory of God. 

Prayer 

Holy Father, we thank you for the life you have given us through you son, Christ Jesus. Continue to work in us, giving us strength to serve you. Forgive us for the times we have faltered and failed as we continue to press on for your honor and glory. 

In Your name we pray, 

Amen 

Steve Franklin PDGA #194303