I've never been a runner. I'll chase after a soccer ball or
a tennis ball any day, but I have never had the desire to go out and run
"just because" or "for fun". Despite my lack of
enthusiasm for running I ended up helping out with "kids on the go"
at school this year. Typically the girls run or walk at their pace and I
do my own thing—speaking words of encouragement when I can.
This past Tuesday I expected it
to be the same. I had a pack of four or five girls who were right with
me, but one-by-one they started to fade away in the first loop we were
running. What was uncommon was one fourth grader who didn't fade
away. I was honestly wondering how long it would last, but she stuck
right with me—a look of determination on her face.
As I was running with this ten
year old girl, God started speaking to me about Hebrews 12:1, which says:
"Therefore, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every
weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us..."
I started thinking about this
crazy race we are all running. I've heard speakers warn that it's a
marathon—not a sprint. That we need to stay the course and to not burn
out. I've also heard speakers talk about not wanting to have anything
left when you get to the finish line. To run hard for
the whole thing and to finally collapse at the end when you hear: "well
done good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21). I see truth in both
of these things.
Coming from a girl who does not
know how to pace out a run to save her life, the question is: how hard
do you run. I hate running to the point that I run hard the
whole time, simply to make it end sooner—which makes me hate it even more
because I'm gasping for air the entire time. It's really a pathetic sight
to see. But what about life? How do we keep the right pace every
day—all day—through it all?
When I ran with this determined
fourth grader I started to think about how she was using me as a
"pacer". She knew that if she stuck with someone setting a pace
for her she would stay on track for the whole run—not just the beginning.
God just started to remind me that He is our pacer. He
is the only one that sees this whole race and knows exactly where He is taking
us and at what speed we need to push on.
How many times have we been the
girl at the start of the run, excited to keep with His pace, just to fade back
away? Or tried to sprint ahead to make that stretch of trail pass by
quicker? If I'm being honest I haven't just been there in a physical run,
but in my life race as well.
Hebrews 12 goes on to say in
verse 2:
"Looking to Jesus, the
founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the
throne of God."
Looking to Jesus. Go ahead and run—run this race—but
keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the keeper of all things. He is the
keeper of time. Of the trail—as well as the trial. Of
nourishment. Of encouragement. He is your keeper and He has
you.
As my fourth grade
companion and I ran around people in the path, we would be forced to separate,
run around the obstacle, and carry on. What I noticed though, was that
when we came back together she would creep closer and closer. Eventually
I had to be careful not to bump her with my arm as she glued right on my
hip. Isn't this such a picture of what our race with Jesus should be
like?
Where our eyes are fixed is
honestly where we always end up. I've witnessed and experienced it firsthand
skiing with friends this winter—the outcome can either make you thrive, or it
can hurt. It all just depends where you chose to fix your focus.
I want to fix my eyes on Jesus—everyday
creeping a little bit closer to His hip as we run this race. I want
to feel the pace He is setting and hear the words of
encouragement He is speaking. I find as I get closer to Him, it's a whole
lot harder to hold on to those weights and sins mentioned in the first
verse.
A little later this week my
heart was burdened for the people running hard without any
reprieve—without any joy—without a "pacer" for this insanely
difficult race of a life. Psalm 16:4 tells us:
"The sorrows of those who
run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not
pour out or take their names on my lips."
I just want all of these people
to have eyes to see that you can run this race with both endurance and joy.
There is an Encourager who pushes you to run hard but gives you an unimaginable
joy through every moment. Psalm 16 goes on to say in verses
6-11:
"The lines have fallen for
me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless
the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I
have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not
be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and
my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not
abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path
of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are
pleasures forevermore."
We are never promised that our
race will be any "easier" as a believer—but there are verses upon
verses that talk about the fullness of joy that Jesus provides. He is so
faithful to go before us and to run beside. He sees your
race, friend. He knows the trails that probably hold some trials.
He is pacing your run for you. Draw near and listen because He is leading
you on the path of life.
When we got to the end of our
run I could almost tangibly feel the pride flood through my body over this ten
year old girl that set her mind to run with endurance. It was
such a powerful picture for me of our Heavenly Father's love for us and desire
for us to push on in this crazy life. He is our pacer, our provider, and
deserves all of our praise! Push on, friend. He's got you, so you’ve got this.
