Finishing the Race Well: Not by a Striving Pace, but by a Steady Faith

There are days where I feel like I’m running a race, but not getting far enough. 

Burning consumes my  chest as I try to catch my breath. 

I continue to push myself just slightly past my limit. 

I think to myself, “this is how I get stronger, right? I can do this. I don’t need to take a break.” 

These foolish words escape my mouth as a delusional pep talk. 

I continue, “I must go on. If I can’t get through this, I’m not good enough. Who could love a failure like me?” 

I start feeling like the air has been knocked out of me. 

I am wheezing and struggling to go on.  

My gut is throbbing from the lack of oxygen in my body. 

I eventually come to a hard stop. 

I throw my hands up to open the airwaves and recognize this is also a position of surrender…

Then, there is a gust of refreshing wind that seems to whisper, “I’m here with you. I’ve loved you from the start and I won’t stop now.”

As I’m able to take a deep breath,  I remember that I don’t have to rely on my own strength. 

I come realize that I don’t have to run this race alone because God is the one who puts breath in my lungs and gives me strength to press on. 

I can put my trust in him to get through any terrain  and finish without feeling defeated. 

God calls out to me to not give up, to grab a hold of his  mighty hand, keep the faith, persevere, and finish well!  

This post was inspired by the song “whisper and the wind” by bodie