Note to self--don't forget what you just learned.
Life is a marathon...part two. Yep, God keeps teaching and moulding and shaping us, doesn't He? Aren't you thankful He never ever gives up on us quick forgetters?
It was a challenging day yesterday. Once again, nothing earth-shattering, but just a lot of those pesky disappointments, frustrations, and concerns that seem to love to come in bunches to distract us, discourage us, and even try to defeat us. Wedding dress woes still unresolved. Minor fender bender for Janie--a big fear, but praise God, a safe ending. Hacked email--huge irritation. Sadness over a puppy we were hoping for but the sweet mama dog had a false pregnancy. Sigh--a long, trying marathon of a day.
And I woke this morning remembering that such is life--a marathon of ups and downs. Moments of joy...and moments of sorrow. Days of great hope...and days of tremendous uncertainty. Times of energy and exhilaration...and times of exhaustion and downheartedness.
Just like that golf marathon lesson from yesterday. Those college golfers can't allow themselves to fall into a pit of discouragement over a bad hole or two...because it's a marathon of 54 holes. There will be spectacular shots...and missed puts. There will be a fortunate roll that stops just short of a bunker...and there will a terrible break of hitting a ball out of bounds by mere inches. And the great golfers have learned--stay the course. Stay steady. Stay focused. And stay fixed on the goal of finishing well.
God's Word tells us "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." (Isa.26:3) A steadfast mind--that's what marathons of running or golf--or life--require.
"When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (Isa.43:2-3)
Notice, it's not if you pass through waters and flames...nope, it's when. We will all pass through those raging fires of life--or even those minor little brush fires. That's what happens in marathons. It's never smooth sailing the whole way. Never.
But God promises to be with us. To walk with us, to lead us, to forgive us, to help us, to strengthen us, to shape us, to encourage us, to use us, to love us...all the way to the finish line.
And so, in the meantime, we need to keep our gaze fixed upon Him rather than our circumstances. After all our hope isn't in our circumstances...it's in our God who is sovereign over our circumstances. And whatever He's allowed, He will use it for our ultimate good and His greater glory.
Our job is just to stay faithful in our marathon, rejecting those thoughts of defeat or discouragement or even despair, and trusting in Him. As Francois Fenelon once declared, "We must leave to God all that depends on Him, and think only of being faithful in all that depends upon ourselves."
So, marathoning lesson part two--stay fixed on God, stay faithful, and stay focused in hope. Because you might be in a tough spot in the marathon today...but it could all change tomorrow. It's always too soon to give up. Not with God!
To God be the glory.
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