Encouragement

My lungs are burning; every inhalation feels like it is filled with floating cinders from a dying fire. These legs are as stable as a pile of poorly folded towels. I am tired. These runs seem to get longer every week, and my stamina does not seem to be keeping pace with the training regimen. The inner critic is louder in these moments. You are slow; you are not a runner; you never finish anything; you are old and fat. Hands clasped on my head, I am now reconsidering all my life decisions.

Cross-country teams run in packs. Shirtless guys in their 20s, running like a pack of whitetail deer. This afternoon had me defeated and face-to-face with them effortlessly lapping me. Normally, realizing my inadequacy would push me further into a tailspin, but today was different. These guys saw me and yelled out, “Don’t quit! You got this!”

The next breath was like a blast of cold, pure oxygen, renewing my energy and will to finish. My final miles were faster than the first.

No one can run for you, and no one can force you to run. But…

No one can live out our faith for us, and we cannot be forced to live a life of faith. But, we can gather around struggling people in our community and encourage and support them. When we are struggling, we can put ourselves in places where people can support and encourage us.

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1-2a