06.26.09

Endurance required

Posted in Humility, relationship with Jesus, worship at 1:49 pm by trisha

Running for …what?

Life swirls around us and we sometimes muster up the courage to grab some time to stop and rest. Schedules, tasks, duties, relationships, budgets, errands, ministry, friends, birthdays- all capture our attention. Swirling time and memories flash behind us. 

If all of these moments were a race, what is at the end? What are we racing towards or for? There are many piles of work and the piles never go away.

We run faster and harder in this race of days to get through it all, yet what is getting my body in action? The sweat drips down and the busyness increases for what?

What is at the finish line?  What is all this effort really about? Why do we strain to get through it all? No one seems to notice my straining, since everyone else running beside me is dripping with motivated strides. 

Then, I stop and look around to get perspective. I see myself burdened with the a heavy load, perspiring, and about to cry from exhaustion. I see others doing the same. Some are setting down with tears of despair from the increased loads. There are some who are veering off the track to some other destination, a distraction of some sorts. Others, look peaceful as if they were all ready done. Just resting and glad about it. I look ahead and I see no finish line, even though I was promised it was right ahead of where I stopped! A race that never ends? What did I sign up for?

Thus is the race of our Christian faith. Specifically, my roles as wife and mother. What waits for me as my reward? What motivates my heart to work hard? Throughout the day, what drives me? What is my rest and peace? What are my eyes focused on?

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

God is the reward. He is the motivation. There is a finish line and our home in heaven is waiting for us. Bridging the gap of labor and my heart is worship. My effort is God- the Holy Spirit enabling me to do tasks because He has called me. 

God wants me to run this race of life with endurance. He has set before me this body, this life, this heart to look to Jesus. I run hard for nothing if I am not looking to Jesus. Jesus is the why of my worship, the object, the reward.

Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

I work my self up to a pretty great rhythm and my breathing seems right for the pace, then all of the sudden I get anxious at the hills ahead of me. My breathing starts getting more labored and my heart starts to get discouraged. I whisper, “ I can’t go any further.”

So, it is with work. Just as I get my house organized and the laundry caught up, I am staring at overwhelming and steep hills of work ahead of me. What keeps me moving forward growing in endurance? It can only be Jesus that moves me. 

God is with me now, not just at the finish line. He is with me with every move I make, every thought, every tender feeling. He is the promised land, but I am already there. In Christ, I am both running towards Him and with Him.

As I run this laborious calling- my worship is increasing. My independence is decreasing. And.. I fall in to God’s precious arms, so that He can carry me the rest of the way. 

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