“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.”
Isaiah 40:30/NIV
Many years ago, when I was in a more youthful season of my life, I had a goal to run a half marathon. At that time, I lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, which is a very beautiful and hilly town. I thought: “with all of the hills around me to run on, what a great place to train for a half marathon – I will be in great shape!” As I began training for the run of my life, I ran week-by-week over the hills and increased my stamina in time. That was a tiring challenge, but I was driven to succeed and accomplish this monumental feat!
The race I was preparing for was the “Rock and Roll Half Marathon,” which was to be run on the coastal flatlands of Virginia Beach, Virginia. During my many months of training and preparation for this run of a lifetime, I thought going from running in the hills with arduous inclines to the flatlands of Virginia Beach would be a piece of cake! I just knew that the preparation in the “hill-country” would most likely over-prepare me for the oceanfront run. I was confident that I would not grow tired or weary, nor stumble or fall!
On the day of the race, I gathered with thousands of other runners at the starting line with much excitement. “I am ready” – I thought! “Piece of cake” – I knew! “How bad could it be?” – I wondered! The race began, and for a long time, I ran shoulder-to-shoulder with other runners with the same hope and dream I had during the many months of preparation. I kept a pretty good pace with other runners until halfway through the race, when I became fatigued. I was beyond tired and honestly was in agony by the tenth mile! Through much positive self-talk and internal motivation…I hobbled onward to the finish line and completed the race.
The race I described can be an illustrative example of the tough seasons we go through in life. As we are following God’s plan and will, though we may be well prepared, the journey can be a daunting challenge to the extent we could lose hope. While doing the Lord’s work and feeling hopelessness creeping in, turn to God and Jesus Christ for help and strength. The following Bible verses are encouraging: Psalm 118:14/NIV – The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation; Philippians 4:13/NIV – I can do all this through Him (Jesus Christ) who gives me strength. Isaiah 40:31 is also encouraging because as we “hope in the Lord,” our strength will be renewed. We will “soar on wings like eagles; run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.” Amen!
Many blessings to you!
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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