I love the Bible and I love Duck Dynasty. If you’re not familiar with the show, Duck Dynasty, it is the story of a multimillionaire, redneck family that makes duck calls for a living down in the heart of Louisiana. What you may not know is that the founder of their business, Duck Commander, was an All-Star quarterback for the Lousinana Tech football team back in the late 60’s. He was so good in fact that after three seasons he was a wanted man by the Washington Redskins. What you also may not know is that the backup quarterback to Phil Robertson during those years was none other than Terry Bradshaw. You can read more about it here: Phil and Terry

The book of James begins with probably the most quoted verses in the book as it speaks of trials and difficult situations in verses 2-7. In his book James focuses mainly on spiritual growth and social relationships but it’s these first few verses that always stand out to me. Here is what he says:

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

In the early stages of his business, which you can read here: Phil’s early trials, Phil says, “I’d drive up to these Walmarts and they’d run me out, ‘you think we’re gonna buy old duck calls off the street?’ I said, ‘Hey man, Colonel Sanders started with one chicken and… that’s good chicken, man,” Robertson said. Phil spent 25 years making duck calls in an old shed behind the house and only made $8,000 in his first year which is wife, Kay, somehow managed to feed the family on. They were hard times full of trials but Phil wouldn’t have it any other way. When he gave up possible millions in the NFL to pursue his passion and calling in life he said, “But you gotta remember, my heart was then and to this day — let me put it this way: Throwing a touchdown pass to a guy running down the sideline, and he runs down with the ball for six, it was fun. However, in my case, it was much more fun to be standing down in some flooded timber with about 35 or 40 mallard ducks comin’ down on top of me in the woods. That did my heart more good than all the football in the world.”

Today, Phil is happy but it’s not about the money. His son, Willie, is the CEO of the company and Phil gets to enjoy life in the woods doing what he always wanted to do.

We don’t rejoice in the trials that come our way but we rather attempt to see them through God’s perspective and rejoice in the possible results that come from them. Even though Phil was doing what he loved I’m sure it wasn’t all that easy in the beginning. The testing or the sifting as I like to call it (think of wheat being sifted) is the season in which we endure the stripping away of what is not good from that which is good. Phil’s business went through years of sifting before it became what it did today. And the patience part can sometimes be the hardest because we want the trial and the testing to hurry up and get done but patience needs to have its way with us. It’s not a passive resignation to life’s circumstances but it’s rather a genuine steadfastness to endure the trials and sifting. For 25 years out in an old woodshed is where Phil endured trials, testing, and patience that ultimately brought completion to the journey.

“Happy, Happy, Happy” is the motto of Phil’s life. His outlook on life was forged many years ago through various trials of many kinds and today he can “sit back” and take in all the hard work that was done and enjoy the journey even more. May I encourage you to remain steadfast and patient during your trials and testing. God promises you that “I began a good work in you and I will be faithful to complete it.”

Go find your passion and calling and live a “Happy, Happy, Happy” life!