You just have to finish

You just have to finish

"The Lord will work out His plans for my life-for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.  Don't abandon me, for You made me."  Psalm 138:8

As many of you know, there are cutoff times in half and full marathons.  The cutoff time for the half (13.1 miles) is generally four hours and six hours for the full (26.2 miles).   Most of us can't imagine doing the same thing over and over for hours on end to claim a prize that amounts to not much more than a lanyard and a piece of metal.  Well, at least that's what the average person thinks.

The person that comes in at 3:53 in a half marathon is not the average person-I can assure you of that.  I had the blessing of being able to watch the last finisher cross at the half marathon Saturday.  Rather than having a look of pain, distress or unhappiness, this girl was smiling from ear to ear!!  Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched her claim her medal and the "red lantern"-the prize for the last finisher.  Why bother some might ask?  Why be proud of being last?  Because she completed something she never thought she could.  And she completed it, not on her strength, but through God's.  Sometimes, there's a greater victory in being last than being first.  Because the victory was not only in completing the race, it was in overcoming fears, self doubt, negative attitudes and stereotypes of what a runner should be.   There's cause for celebration just taking that first step.  

So, I say, do what you can with what you have.  Celebrate every victory achieved through Christ.  Give Him the glory and don't give up.  2 Corinthians 12:10 says, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." The weaker we are, the more Christ's strength shows to all.  What a witness for Christ we all can be!  Yes, all of us.  

Receiving the red lantern award from Ruth Sawkins.

Love her smile and attitude as she comes in under the cutoff.  She didn't hang her head because she was last, she held up her hands in praise because she finished!!!  What a testimony!  

Heavenly Father, I know you didn't design all of us to be runners or walkers, but you did make us to serve You all our days and to be a blessing to others.  I pray that You will show the lost the purpose You have for their lives and give them peace and boldness to "take that first step" to victory through You.  You are an awesome God and worthy to be praised.  We love you Lord.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!!