Run the Race

Dear Friend,

There’s just something about coming in first place! For me offseason basketball consisted of long distance running and lots of cross training. I remember back in middle school when I first started playing I had no concept of pacing myself in a long distance run. I longed for the attention of my coach to praise and acknowledge me for doing something right. So when we headed to the track for the run I found myself doing it completely wrong. I jogged (...and walked) three-fourths of a lap only to take off running on the last straight away that was directly in front of the coach. As soon as I passed her, I slowed down and began trudging the rest of the way. Until...I made it back around the second time to the Coach where I took off running. This time though she told me to cut it out and run the whole lap the best that I could! I immediately knew that she wasn’t interested in my spurt of energy, she was focused on my endurance and consistency!

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 | NLT

I had nothing to prove to her! She wasn’t interested in me having the fastest time. But I believed the lie in my mind that I wasn’t good enough. So I exerted energy and was wasting time doing something that was no benefit to me. She just wanted me to do the best I could. How many times do we try to prove something to God? He is just looking at us through Jesus and He sees us righteous! We are whole and complete. He knows that in these Earth suits called bodies we will fail and make mistakes. But He isn’t interested in us getting stuck in the mistakes, He is looking for us to keep running the race. And to always keep in mind that our victory isn’t predicated on how fast, or good, or intelligent we are!

Let’s rest in His grace and run life at His Kingdom pace!

No need to show off...He already knows who we are!

With love,

Jess