The Race

This morning I took our dog, Henry, out for his daily walk along the seafront. Today there seemed to be a lot of people around, and I wondered what was going on. As we made our way along the prom, on the way back, I noticed a bright neon green sign on the ground by a parked car, and went over to have a look at it.  It read, ‘Race in progress’.

I had just walked a few more steps, when someone shouted out a warning, and seconds later a man in a self-propelled wheelchair came up behind me, and whizzed past at quite some speed. I was glad I was safely out of his way. Henry and I continued walking, now on the wide pavement.

But now there were lots of people, running towards us. I noticed how each one was running differently. Some were struggling with the sheer effort and were breathless, while others seemed to be going full steam ahead without much effort involved.

Then I started thinking about another race in which all of us who are Christians are involved.  We each have our own track, so won’t collide with anyone. Our race is not a competition with other runners, and we have our own speed. But the Lord isn’t that worried about how fast we go. The important thing is that we get to the finish line. And that finish line is different for each one of us.

But in common with an ordinary race with competitors, we need endurance. Most of the runners I saw were wearing shorts and t-shirts, and they weren’t carrying anything with them. And our verse tells us to lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely. We get different weights at different times in our lives, and sins which can drag us down. But as we keep our eyes on Jesus, and give our burdens to Him, and confess our sins as they happen, He gives us His strength to endure whatever life throws at us.

I have been suffering with back pain recently, and I have prayed that the Lord would heal me.  I have also been thinking about the back pain Jesus endured when He was scourged, and then had to carry the cross on His bleeding back. My pain was nothing compared to that, but I also knew that my Heavenly Father knew how painful my back was.

Maybe you are going through a painful time just now. Jesus knows, and He cares, and He will give you the strength to endure and keep running your race, as you keep your eyes fixed on Him.