I never noticed how windy it can be in the Spring. The other day I was running, and because I had a limited amount of time to do so, but still wanted to get in a couple miles, I decided to run as fast as I could and chase down a new PR. I was doing fairly well, (in my own estimation- I can't tell you what impression various passerby and onlookers got) but as I began to head back home I was lambasted with a wind that was relentless! From the north, south, east, or west? I have no idea- it was from the left, and it was making my run home miserable! What was I to do? Stop running? Walk? Hitch a ride? Ridiculous propositions, I know, but as I persevered against the wind and ran (as fast as I could manage) home, I started to think about the lesson that could be learned from this most unfortunate, and frustrating, situation.
I quickly realized that my 30 minute run resembled the challenges of everyday life. We have all experienced a time when we were moving along- at a fairly good pace- no bumps, no challenges, everything peachy-keen, when WHAM! Here comes the wind! It could be from the left, right, or...who cares! It's frustrating and definitely not what you planned for. However, it's not going away- so you might as well just run through it.
Just.
Keep.
Going.
The Bible tells us in Romans 5:3-5 that the trials we face produce perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. James chapter 1 tells us that the "testing of our faith" produces patience, and that we should let patience have its perfect work in us so that we may be "perfect and complete," "lacking nothing." (James 1: 2-4)
I guess this means we should let the wind do what its gonna do- right? I mean- you can't stop it. You can't fight against it and win, so you might as well reap the benefits of the resistance it brings. In life, we can't stop trials that come our way, but we can embrace them, and let them work in us. For in doing that, we become much better off than we were before. We become stronger runners. We become better people.
One of my favorite challenges in the Bible is given in Proverbs 24:10. It says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small." Who wants to be described like that? Don't faint. Don't quit. Just keep going. In spite of how you feel- know that the wind will make you a better runner, and when you feel the breeze start to blow, lean into it, push forward, and reap the benefits.
At the risk of sounding a bit childish, I want to end by asking: How big is your strength?.....because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So can you.
I quickly realized that my 30 minute run resembled the challenges of everyday life. We have all experienced a time when we were moving along- at a fairly good pace- no bumps, no challenges, everything peachy-keen, when WHAM! Here comes the wind! It could be from the left, right, or...who cares! It's frustrating and definitely not what you planned for. However, it's not going away- so you might as well just run through it.
Just.
Keep.
Going.
The Bible tells us in Romans 5:3-5 that the trials we face produce perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. James chapter 1 tells us that the "testing of our faith" produces patience, and that we should let patience have its perfect work in us so that we may be "perfect and complete," "lacking nothing." (James 1: 2-4)
I guess this means we should let the wind do what its gonna do- right? I mean- you can't stop it. You can't fight against it and win, so you might as well reap the benefits of the resistance it brings. In life, we can't stop trials that come our way, but we can embrace them, and let them work in us. For in doing that, we become much better off than we were before. We become stronger runners. We become better people.
One of my favorite challenges in the Bible is given in Proverbs 24:10. It says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small." Who wants to be described like that? Don't faint. Don't quit. Just keep going. In spite of how you feel- know that the wind will make you a better runner, and when you feel the breeze start to blow, lean into it, push forward, and reap the benefits.
At the risk of sounding a bit childish, I want to end by asking: How big is your strength?.....because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So can you.