I've been doing a lot of speaking lately, and perseverance keeps coming up. :)
Times are hard. Real hard. And people are struggling. They're looking for encouragement, insight, advice, wisdom - on how they can keep running their race with perseverance.
Since I've had so many emails and people talking to me about this lately, I thought I'd share my little analogy I've been sharing along the way.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says this:
NASB "1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I love how many times Scripture uses the picture of athletes - running their race. Our Christian walk is supposed to be that. Our own individual race - set before each of us. My race isn't the same as yours and vice versa.
But so often, it's too easy to get distracted. To head off the racetrack, get bogged down by life's problems, or simply lie down to take a break. :)
One day, I began to think of myself not just as a runner - but as a hurdler. Well, because frankly, I realized that my race would not be smooth like on a paved track. There would be bumps, mountains, valleys, and potholes. :)
So... think of yourself as an Olympic hurdler.
Would an athlete of this caliber stop and smell the roses on the sidelines if he hadn't finished his race?
Would an athlete of this caliber jog along, waving at his fans - smiling, chitchatting, etc?
Would an athlete of this caliber stop in the middle of the race just because he knocked a hurdle?
Would an athlete of this caliber go back and keep going over the same hurdle because it wasn't perfect the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th time?
How did you answer those questions?
Now, can you apply them to your own life?
Yes, there will be lots of hurdles. Sometimes one right after the other. Sometimes you'll clear it with no problem. Other times, you might scrape your knee as you jump. And there will be times when you will knock the hurdle completely down. Every once in a while, you may even fall on your face in the mud puddle and wonder if you'll ever be able to get up and keep going.
But you can.
Remember, we are supposed to cast our burdens upon HIM. He's waiting with open arms to help us up, clean us up, sometimes even to carry us until we catch our breath.
Right now, we've got some pretty huge hurdles we're facing. But I'm reminded of all the thousands of hurdles we've made it through so far. And I'm fixing my gaze on that finish line and not looking back.
Some days, I may go faster than others. Some days it might take me a while to climb out of the hole to get back on the track, but I am pressing on - to persevere.
Because... "...perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:4 NIV
