I'm a runner. I started running Cross Country my freshman year in high school, even though I hadn't planned on running until I was at the schedule pick up table at orientations. So you could say it was a split decision. I had an error in the schedule and had to pick a class on the spot, it just so happened that the boys Cross Country coach was there helping me pick. He suggested I run, "Sure." I said. I didn't think it'd be THAT big of a deal, I knew I could handle it. Im a black belt in Taek Won Do, what couldn't I handle? What I didn't know at that time was that it wasn't just a "coincidence". It was what I was supposed to do. It was a battle that was going to make me stronger, and make me lean on God. Even though this story doesn't end in me going to the Olympics (I wasn't exactly the best on the team) it ends in me saying 2 things.
1) You never know. You never know what life is going to throw at you, or what you're going to be challenged with. So be prepared, and be prepared with God. It was God's will for me to run Cross Country, it wasn't mine... but now that I've done it, it was one of the best decisions I've ever commited myself to.
2) Finish what you started.
After waking up every morning I made it a habit to go to practice even when it was raining or even when it was 5:30 in the morning. Whether it was 105 degrees outside or 23 degrees outside... it taught me how strong you have to be to overcome your challenges. This sport was a different kind of sport. It's not about knowing how to run or how to stride, it's about overcoming the pain and really, the misery that always comes with it. It's about knowing that at any second all you have to do to make the pain go away is to just stop... then making the decision to keep going even though this last step may be all you have left. And then, you surprise yourself. As your questioning whether to stop or not, you've already taken 50 more steps. If you could take those 50 steps, you can do the next, and the next, and the next.
Yeah, running is just a sport. But the decision process you're constantly fighting with is life. No one ever said life was easy, no one ever told me Cross Country was easy. Because it's not. It's hard. It's challenging.
So do you do it? Or do you give up?
You do it.
You close your eyes, ask God to help you, and you finish it. Because that's the only way you're going to cross the finish line.
That's the only way you're going to win.
The life challenges God gives us are ment to be won. And with God, all things are possible. For me, my challenge invovled an actual finish line. In reality everyone's battles are different.
So how do you beat them?
"The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed." Psalm 34:17-18
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
You stand up with God, and fight.
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