Matt Stutzman, now age 37, who lives in Fairfield, Iowa, had every reason to fear and complain about his life. His circumstances to the average person could seem to be that of someone with no hope.
You see, Matt’s problems started the day he was born. Born with no arms, Matt’s biological parents were told that he would need around-the-clock care, which would cost millions of dollars. In the end, Matt’s parents decided that that was more than they could handle, so they put him up for adoption.
But by the grace of God, in walks Jean and Leon Stutzman, who adopted Matt when he was 13 months old. The Stutzmans brought him home and raised him along with their seven other children. They had one simple rule: Do things for yourself.
The year was 2009, at the height of the U.S. recession and financial crisis. By this time Matt was well into his 30s with a wife and family to provide for. Seeking employment, no one would hire him because of his perceived disability. To put food on the table, Matt, with no arms, did something unusual and unexpected. He decided to use his feet to hunt deer with a bow and arrow during deer season.
…And guess what? It worked! It worked so well that Matt decided to try his luck competing against able-bodied people (professional archers who had arms).
As a result of his dedication and sense of moving forward with his life without having any excuses as to why he could not be successful, Matt is now America’s best archer. And get this: according to statistics, only one percent of professional archers in the world make a living primarily as an archer. Matt is part of that one percent and is now able to provide for his family using his feet.
But that’s not all: Matt can use normal utensils and eat with his feet as if they are fingers. He can also change a tire and drive a sports car – ALL with just his feet.
Matt, who won the silver medal in the 2012 Paralympic Games, the U.S.A. Archery Outdoor National Championship, and holds a world record for the longest accurate shot in archery as part of the U.S. Olympic Team, has a story that could easily get overshadowed by the mainstream sports headlines of Lebron James, Steph Curry, Tom Brady, Venus Williams, and other sports stars. Still, he is an example of how having no fear and no excuses can result in success far greater than you can imagine.
That’s the same position that the nation of Israel found themselves in Joshua chapter one.
Moses, God’s servant, had passed away. Moses was the person who, with God’s help, led the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt. Moses, the man who led them across the Red Sea, was no longer there. The time the nation of Israel needed him the most – he was gone.
You see, prior to Moses’ death, God made a promise that the nation of Israel would live in a land flowing with milk and honey – the Promise Land of Canaan.
But what the people did not realize is that a new season was ahead of them and that a new leader would take them to what God had promised. That leader was Joshua.
Joshua, who assisted Moses for 40 years – was 85 years old and found himself having to carry out an assignment that would change not only his life but the lives of millions of other people in a major way.
You may be looking at your set of circumstances and wondering how you will make it or how you will overcome what you’re facing.
Well, I want to paraphrase and give you the same words that God gave Joshua in Joshua 1:3-5: Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage.
- I know that it may look like there is no hope.
- I know that it may seem like you’re all alone.
- And I know that your current circumstances may seem like you’re facing impossible odds.
But I want to encouraged you today to be strong and of good courage. Know that God is with you. Move forward with your life. Live your life with no excuses despite that cards that life has dealt you.
After all, if a man with no arms doesn’t make any excuses, who knows what God has in store for you.