"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT
Upon hearing the news of legendary runner Dick Hoyt's passing yesterday, I was quite saddened. Having shared the Boston Marathon racecourse with him in 2014 for his very last Boston Marathon and my second (he completed 32), I was quite familiar with the story of Team Hoyt which began in 1962 when Dick's son, Rick, was born and immediately diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy as a result of oxygen deprivation to his brain. Dick and his wife, Judy, were advised to institutionalize Rick because they said he had no hope of living a "normal" life; something Dick and Judy refused to believe. Instead, they fought to integrate Rick into the public school system which he entered in 1975 at the age of 13. A few years later, in 1977, Rick wanted to enter a 5-mile race and his father agreed to push him in a wheelchair. That night, Rick told his father, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.” And just like that, the duo began running together as Team Hoyt inspiring the formation of The Hoyt Foundation in 1989 that serves to promote the inclusion of the disabled into all facets of daily life. How's that for good coming out of what the Hoyts were told was a "hopeless" situation?
And you know, the Bible is very clear that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." This doesn't mean that "everything" in our life will be good, only that God will use "everything" that happens to us to fulfill "his purpose." Which means, for the believer, there is always hope! Something that is very hard to grasp and understand when that "everything" includes things we might feel are unjust, unfair or even unbearable. But guess what? When we place our trust in Him, despite those feelings, we will soon understand that God can indeed bring good out of all seemingly hopeless situations; something the Hoyt family came to understand.
So if that "everything" in your life includes a few things you just don't understand, don't think you can handle, or don't think can be redeemed, hold tight my friend. Fix your eyes on Jesus as You trust Him to fulfill the promise to make all things "work together for the good"--a promise that has been tried and tested and has never, not even once, failed to come true for the person who loves God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who never breaks His promises. There have been so many situations from the beginning of time that appeared hopeless and yet, time and again, You always worked them for the good of those who love You. Remind us that You are the same God yesterday, today and forever and that You can still be trusted Lord. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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