Limping to the aid station...Day 27

"the tortise and the hare"  edited photo

 

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, 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.  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Today I have felt fainthearted...and weary.  I have not had a 'can-do' attitude...I have had  more of a "I'm not sure I can hold on" attitude.  As I took time to think about this today,  God reminded me that I am in a spiritual marathon...not a sprint....which is good because I am not fast!  But I am impatient sometimes.  And sometimes, I want to rush in and handle things on my own and I end up getting in the way of a process God is working in my life or the life of someone I love.  That happened today and the conviction I felt was immense...probably because it is a lesson I have been challenged with several times in the past months and I keep repeating the same mistake!!! UGH!

In a marathon, an experienced runner has put in many miles of training before ever standing at the starting line.  But no matter how much training a runner has done, aid along the race course is vital, in terms of hydration, and fueling.  How lost I would be in this spiritual marathon if God did not provide me with aid...filling my life with his grace and mercy when I am stumbling and falling, surrounding me with other people to point me in the right direction when I am about to make a wrong turn, and strengthening me to face those "Heartbreak Hills".

So even though I am fainthearted and I failed miserably today, I am going to limp to the aid station and gratefully receive God's ministering to my spirit...it's time to carry on.