Pacing Our Race
Our Women’s Bible Study group just finished an incredible series wrapped around the scripture: “Since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
Weights. Ya’ gotta love ’em or dislike ’em! I remember after my babies were born that my doctor advised me to not lift anything more than 10 pounds for six weeks. Good thing my babies were only in the 7 pounds range. After those six weeks, I was lifting weights for added strength.
Our Bible Study was more about running our race at our own pace without weights that could weigh us down. My race and my pace has drastically changed from the busy housewife, mother, office administrator, women’s ministry leader, piano teacher, and church organist when my children were very young. I often look back at those days and wonder “How did I manage to keep my head on straight? How did I maintain a calm, cool and collected image?”
How did I not cave in the middle of the busyness?” If my kids are reading this, would you please remind me if I was ever cray-cray or better yet, please don’t remember! I prefer to think that I was just like June Cleaver in the “Leave it to Beaver” TV series in the 60s or Mrs. Cunningham in the 70s “Happy Days” TV series — adoring, sweet, calm, and serene.
I really do get you precious wives and moms who are juggling a dozen plates at the same time. Been there and done that AND now I am proof that you will survive!
Life requires a truckload of patience and perseverance. Good news is we conquer! For example — here we are almost to the month of March, and Christmas is a distant memory. All that stress and busyness is behind us AND we’re on to successfully making it through another year.
The challenge is we aren’t satisfied with taking baby steps to get to our destination. We expect life to be about giant leaps or we’re falling short. There are many lessons to learn and many victories to win if we take one step at a time to accomplish our goals.
In car races, it begins with a pace car that drives around the track leading the other cars before the race officially starts. Once the flag to start is waved, the pace car veers off and the others pass on by and commence the race.
God is the driver of our pace car. Instead of concerning ourselves with the next BIG event and all the challenges we’ll face, the better plan is to get in sync with God’s perfect pace that will keep us in a state of peace and contentment.
Listen to God’s pace: “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.” Isaiah 40:28-31
Aw! Our Pace-Setter! Why don’t we open our hearts to syncing with His pace? Absolute perfect timing for our life journeys!