Strength to the weary and power for the weak

Isaiah 40:28-31: The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So I set out today for the first time after running my first 5K race last Saturday. What a different feeling. On Saturday, my legs felt strong and I was able to finish with a strong sprint. It was a good race and a great feeling. Today….not so much. My legs felt heavy from the very beginning. They were weighted down and I had absolutely no kick for my finish at my mile 2 turn around. What happened? I believe today’s run is what those who train call a recovery day. I will learn to expect these down days after a hard race. Weariness, weakness, lack of will – it’s the price you pay for exerting that extra effort in the competition.

It made me thankful to know that our God doesn’t grow tired or weary – although I’m sure I must try his patience frequently. It also made me think about the work that Satan does in our life following a spiritual high. Have you had those? You have a great service at church, or a breakthrough in an area where you’ve been praying, maybe a wayward child return to the Lord and you couldn’t be happier. Then it hits….that sluggish pulling and tugging down on your spirit. It is like the letdown after the adrenaline rush of a big race. I’m sure Satan watches for those times to cause us to stumble and fall. I sure felt that way today – it carried through to the rest of my day. My friend Val would call it a “funk” – that drug out, pulled down, can’t get back up feeling.

But then I read Isaiah 40 – Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. I can’t do it on my own anymore than I could will my legs to run faster at the end of my split today. I will get my kick back – it is why you continue to run even if you are feeling in a funk. Tomorrow will be an off day, but on Wednesday I can just about predict I will have a better run - strength will return with each new day of training. My body will work to rebuild and renew my physical strength, and I’ll look to the Creator to renew my spiritual strength. I plan to soar like an eagle both on the road course and in my spiritual journey.

Running the Race

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . . Hebrews 12:1

I certainly didn't start jogging for the spiritual experience....but I've been surprised how it has brought me closer to God. I would be having a particularly difficult time and this verse from Hebrews 12 would pop into my mind and become a cadence for me. Then as my Dad has become more sick (he has lung cancer and recently decided to discontinue further treatment), jogging has been a solace - a time of running through tears, occasionally yelling at God, asking why but knowing the answer, and a time just to clear out my mind. Sometimes I don’t think about anything but the sound of my breath and my feet hitting the pavement.

I'm seeing a lot of spiritual parallels in running. For instance, my inspiration verse says to lay aside every weight. I'm an ADD running - if my shoes aren't right, my shorts are bugging me, my socks slip down, my headphones are not sitting quite right, I have trouble focusing on the running. I will fidget, play around with the offending item, and generally be totally distracted until it is put straight. I also don't run with jewelry, use the lightest shoes and clothes possible, and don't carry water bottles or other things with me. Do I make this much effort in ensuring that my spiritual life is without encumbrance and I can stay focused on the race set before me? I think not.

As I ran my first 5K this last weekend, I even saw a parallel with the cloud of witnesses. There were so many people along the route that kept cheering us on. They’d clap their hands, run alongside us, and cheer – “You can do it!”, “Don’t stop now!”, “You’re doing great.” They could see what I was trying to accomplish and knew I was focused on that finish line! Do I share with others what my spiritual race is at the moment? Do I ask for their support and prayer in a tangible way? Am I honest with them about what is holding me back? Mostly, no. What an opportunity I’ve missed by not allowing my faithful friends to come alongside.

I have a race that God has set before me – I must train and prepare myself just like I did for this first 5K race this weekend. I must lay aside those things that will slow me down or distract me. I will need those faithful witnesses to cheer me on and probably at times to pick me up when I fall. But our God is a great God, and He knows what we need to win the race.