"The
year was 2008. The race started out like any other race: runners at the
starting line, fans in the stands, excitement and anticipation thick in the
air. But this race was a big one. An indoor track and field conference
championship for the collegiate women’s 600 meter run.
At
the sound of the gun, the runners took off – each with a heart longing to win
the race – each competing fiercely for the prize. Just three quick laps stood
between the four athletes and their destinies. It was clear from the beginning,
this race would be tight.
My
family and I watched on an internet video as the long and lean runners vied for
the lead. In unison, we gasped with horror when, as they began the final lap,
one of the competitors caught the slightest edge of another runner’s shoe and
went crashing down onto the track. My heart sunk when she fell. I didn’t know
this fallen woman, but I do know what it feels like to fall and to have your
hopes dissolve in a split second. I felt the despair of the crash with her.
The
fans in the crowd all stood to their feet and rallied cries of encouragement to
this young runner. The seconds that followed will be etched into my heart and
mind forever. She could’ve walked off the track and everyone would’ve
understood. She could’ve thrown in the towel and quit the race in humiliation.
But she didn’t quit. She got up and kept running. Now a full quarter-lap behind
the other runners, this athlete fixed her eyes on the track before her and ran
like the wind.
With
just half a lap to go, this determined young woman overtook third place.
Unbelievable. The crowd swelled with amazement. Then, just a hundred yards
before the finish line, she inched up to the other two runners and – at the
tape – leaned forward to win the race! No. Stinkin’. Way. The crowd went wild.
My family went wild. What a race! What a fall! What a recovery! What a victory!
The
next day, as I took my teenage son to school, he and I had trouble connecting.
I was frustrated with him; he was frustrated with me, and what I’d hoped would
be a warm send off to a great day became an icy goodbye as he got out of the
car. I felt like a loser-mom and lamented to God about it on the drive home. As
I poured out my frustrations in prayer, the Lord reminded me of the race.
Like
the young runner, I got tripped up on the shoes of another runner and fell down
mid-race. Now, I had a choice. I could stew and lick my mama-wounds, allowing
my disappointments to keep me from running, or I could call on
the grace of the Lord, put one foot in front of another, and get back in the
race. The writer of Hebrews talks about a cloud of witnesses that encourages
others in faith, and as I prayed I could almost hear them cheering me on.
“Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews
12:1-2).
Game.
On.
I
got back up. I chose to run again by asking the Lord for the grace and strength
to finish the day strong in Him. By the time my son got home from school we had
both cooled down. Grace ran before us. I asked him to forgive me for
frustrating him and he did the same.
We all run. We all fall. Each day presents us with fresh
opportunities to allow the mercy, strength and grace of God to intervene in our
lives. When writing to the church of Philippi about the discipline of
perseverance, the apostle Paul said this:
"I want to know Christ
and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the
resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have
already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ
Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Philippians 3:10-16)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Philippians 3:10-16)
So whatever you face today, friend, run. Run to win the
prize. Run like the wind. And when you fall; don’t throw in the towel, don’t
point fingers, don’t stew, and don’t quit. Get right back up and run again… in
the mercy, strength and grace of God.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thanks for
being a God of second chances and eternal grace! Please help me to run in your
mercy and strength today.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now
It’s Your Turn
Grab your Bible and read the book of Philippians today.
It’s only four chapters long. You can do it! It will bless your socks off! If
you don’t have time to read the whole thing right now, then read a chapter a
day for the next four days.
“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)
Look up Isaiah 40:28-31 and fill in the following blank
spaces:
“Do
you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the ______________ ______,
the _______________ of the ends of the earth. He will not grow ________ or
___________, and his __________________ no one can fathom. He gives
________________ to the _______________and increases the ____________ of the
____________. Even youths grow _____________ and ____________, and young men
_____________ and _____; but those who _________ in the LORD will ___________
their _____________. They will _________ on wings like eagles; they will
_______ and not grow weary, they will ___________ and not be ______________.”
This afternoon's post: A PAGE FROM MY BOOK
Tonight’s post: WHAT IS MEANT BY SUFFERING FOR CHRIST?
Tomorrow’s
post: JUST LISTEN!
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