Make It Look Effortless
2 Peter 1:5-7 (CSB)
[5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,
[6] knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,
[7] godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
What a lot of people like about Steph Curry, the multi time NBA Champion, the man who holds the record for most three-pointers in NBA history, what a lot of people like about Steph Curry is not merely the fact that he comes across as humble or a person who clearly his faith and family means a lot to him (although all of those are admirable), it's the fact that he makes it look "Steffortless."
Of course, this is a play on words, combining his name, Stephen Curry to the word "effortless." Nevertheless, Stephen Curry makes it look effortless.
And the reality is this: when you find yourself in the practice of something, continually pursuing something, after some time, it's going to look effortless for those who actually are getting started. Now, this may be disheartening to them because they see someone who is doing it effortlessly and think, "Wow, this person puts in no effort." And I must admit to you that sometimes in the grind, it is effortless. It is!
I know that may not sound popular or even encouraging, but it's the truth. As someone who's been married for 16+ years, I can tell you there are days where loving my wife and being present as a father, as a husband, is effortless. It’s just... it’s smooth like butter. I don't even have to try. But there are other days where I have to put in maximum effort.
And we are encouraged through the Scripture that we must make every effort to seek goodness and godliness and endurance. And there are days where you have to put in maximum effort. And other days, because you are creating the muscle memory, it almost feels effortless.
What I would encourage you is that even if it requires maximum effort, keep pushing. Even on the days that it feels effortless, keep pushing.
One of the traps that takes place is that the moment that it starts feeling effortless, we stop pushing. We feel as though we've accomplished it, we've mastered it, so we must look for something else to do. But the reality is that in the moment that it feels effortless, that is a sign of growth and maturation—but that doesn't mean that the growth and that the work is over.
You go back to work! And you take another shot. And you set up. And you take another shot. And you take another shot. And you take another shot. Before every game, after the game, you'll find Stephen Curry on the court practicing. Why? After so many years? After making it look "Steffortless"? Why does he continue to practice?
Because the only way to make it even seem remotely effortless is to be a practitioner. A lot of people like to pontificate on the possibilities and create hypotheses of what should be or how it should work. The reality is that you must be a practitioner. It's when you find yourself working and grinding and doing the thing, that the thing becomes effortless at times. And other times, it requires great effort.
And for this reason, you must make every effort to continue to seek goodness, godliness, endurance, knowledge. You must make every effort. Even when it seems effortless. Because that feeling of effortlessness can actually drive you away from putting in the practice.
And if you're not a practitioner, then what are you?