I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
As I looked down the path, the road continued as if it had no end. In my mind, I kept saying, “pick up your feet, Cheri”. They felt like lead within my running shoes and it took every ounce of strength to keep going. As I came to the 10-mile marker on the Air Force Half Marathon route at Wright Patterson Air Force Base seeing that sign lite a spark that ignited a robust burst of energy that would take me to the finish line. Oh, Happy Day!!!
Often, I wonder where that strength came from to get me to the end of a marathon race or even completing a challenging work assignment or project. I can feel that I am taking my very last breath and at the point of collapsing and a thought or a visual sign like the 10-mile marker will catch my attention and almost instantly regenerate something within me that drives me to completion.
Strength is either the quality and state of being physically strong or the capacity to withstand great force or pressure. The drive, force, or pressure that takes us the extra three miles to complete the 13.1-mile race is the faith that we have in God. In Hebrews 12:1-3 is what helps me to finish the race.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
These verses set the stage for Christian living and a walk with Christ that has no limits, obstacles, or barriers. There are three things that I want to highlight from this verse that helped me to understand the greater force within me to endure all things, good or bad, easy, or challenging through Christ.
- Perseverance – this is the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. There are somethings that we are called to do and nothing can stop us because we know that we know, we are supposed to do that thing. We will gain a strength from the Lord that we did not know we had and we will complete it and God will get the glory for it.
- Knowing your calling or purpose – your calling and purpose is how God created you to worship Him, serve Him, honor Him, and give glory to Him in everything that you do. How and what has God endowed you with and how are you giving Him glory in every aspect of your life? When we get in our place, God can work with us and empower and equip us to do Kingdom work.
- Focus on Jesus – this is the connection with Him that every part of you aligns with Him. He is the key and you are the lock. Although hard times may come, you have such a connection with Jesus that you do not waver. Those who are fixed or focus on Jesus may take a position like Paul suggests “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”. I Corinthians 15:58.
With these three nuggets of hope, let us all run the race that is before us with the goal of completing and finishing the course. Our work and labor in the Lord are not in vain. God will give you the strength that no man can imagine. Trust God!!
Be blessed.