This NASCAR Driver Finds ‘Pure Joy’ Amid Trials — You Can Too
By Movieguide® Contributor
NASCAR driver Aric Almirola is opening up about how he endures trials with joy.
“You know, one of the verses that I’ve hung on to through much of my career and even when, you know, times are going tough because life is not easy, right? Like anybody that’s got air in their lungs has had troubling times,” Almirola said on the “Get In The Game” podcast. “I don’t care how much money you have or how much success you’ve had, you’ve had tough times.
“So, one of the verses that just always has resonated with me is James 1:2: ‘Consider it pure joy when you’re going through trouble of any kind,”‘ he said. “It’s like, really? Like how does that make sense? Like, consider it pure joy. But as you read on, it’s the reasons that are laid out after that. And so I would encourage your audience to go read James 1.”
The passage continues:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
“[These are] the reasons for the joy, right?” he continued. “And I just always hold onto that because life is not easy, things are not going to be given to you or go the way that you want them to all the time, and you have to learn how to navigate.”
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Almirola identifies as a “God-fearing” man on his social media pages and even took a trip to Utah where he got to learn more about Bible translation.
“Spent the 1st part of the trip at an event with @wycliffeusa Bible Translators,” Almirola explained. “It’s amazing to see and hear about what God is doing around the world through Bible Translation. Seeing people’s reactions to receiving the living word in their native tongue is incredible.
“Spent the 2nd part of the trip exploring the mountains,” he continued. “There is something special about being up at altitude, far away from the hustle of the world, enjoying Gods creation. Summer or Winter. Both are just as much fun.”
Movieguide® previously reported on another NASCAR driver who relies on his faith:
NASCAR driver Howie Disavino III recently shared his story of family loss and his faith in God on the Sports Spectrum podcast.
“Tell me about the importance of God in your life and your faith,” host Jason Romano asked.
Disavino explained that he grew up in a family with a lot of faith in God, but when he moved out on his own, he had to find faith for himself.
“While I was moving out, that’s one thing that you can struggle with when you move out is just trying to get back into it,” he said. “I always tell everyone that God’s always on my side, and that we’re always going to make great things happen.”
“Every night, I go through the Bible [and] find specific Bible verses that I can relate to in my own life, whether I’m having a bad day or if I just really want a powerful Bible verse to touch my heart,” Disavino said.
