Get back up

"Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?   Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”  Matthew 26:40-41

In the midst of training, have you ever set out intent on doing a certain number of miles only to fall short of your goal? Or totally blew it at a race after doing the proper training?  Maybe you failed to get enough rest or hydrate properly?  Maybe it was just one of those days?  Face it, we're only human as the saying goes.   This verse crossed my mind yesterday morning over and over as I struggled to finish the mileage I had set out to complete only to miss the mark.  With the clock counting down to my next marathon, it was a disappointment but not a defeat.  Oh well, I thought, it's just one of those days.  I'll just have to try again.  

While Jesus was in garden of Gethsemane, He knew the time was approaching when He would be betrayed and arrested and He knew it was important for Him to pray.  He was going to need the strength only the Father could give.  He didn't ask much of the disciples, only that they keep watch while He prayed.  After finding them asleep,  He warned them of the weakness of the spirit only to come back  and find them asleep again for they "couldn't keep their eyes open." v.43.  "So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."  Matthew 26:34.  How horrible the disciples must have felt!  They were given the simple job of staying awake and they failed miserably.  

The thing to learn from this is that we will all fail.  Our flesh is weak.  As much as we strive to be like Christ, we will never "hit the mark".  But that's okay.  He loves us in spite of our imperfections and weaknesses.  In fact, He died for the very disciples who couldn't even stay awake to keep watch while He prayed.  He died for them, He died for me and He died for you.  Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.". We will all fail from time to time, but the real failure is staying down.  Proverbs 24:16 says, "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.".   In the words of Toby Mac, "We lose our way,We get back up again.   It's never too late to get back up again, One day you will shine again, You may be knocked down, but not out forever."  

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us in spite of our weaknesses and shortcomings.  As much as we strive to be like You, we never quite make it.  What a gracious God you are to love us anyway and to send your son to die on the cross to forgive us of our sins.  You are surely worthy to be praised!!!  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.  

Happy running!!!
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Get back up-Toby Mac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5OqyBYKh4