The next dip

"So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy." 2 Kings 5:14

Brandon Hudgins, 29, is running in his first Olympic Trials. While he's older than most middle distance runners, what makes this story interesting is that he says "his career is just starting." You see eight years ago, while enjoying a promising collegiate running career, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening autoimmune disorder called vasculitis that forced him to give up his dream. But after enduring countless chemotherapy treatments to fight it, five years ago he made the comeback into elite track racing that doctors declared would be next to impossible. And, after enduring a relapse nearly a year later and undergoing chemotherapy once again, his persistence paid off. On Thursday night at Hayward Field,  20,000 spectators watched him run an impressive 3:43.25 at the 1500-meter trials to qualify for the semifinals. What if he had given up though? What if he had quit the first time he got knocked down? Or the second?

The Bible tells us the story of Namaan, the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a brave and valiant soldier but he had leprosy. Instead of being cured immediately by the prophet, Elisha, Namaan was told to wash himself seven times in the Jordan and he would be restored. Washing in the muddy river was certainly not what he wanted to do. He was a great hero and used to getting respect. Couldn't he at least have been asked to wade into a cleaner river? Why was all this necessary anyway? But Namaan, wanting to be healed, humbled himself and obeyed the commands of Elisha, "and dipped himself in Jordan seven times." Don't you think he wanted to give up or wondered if it would work? When do you quit though? When is enough, enough? Five times in the Jordan, six times? No-one more dip in the Jordan. If Naaman had quit at one, two, three, four, five or six times nothing would have happened. It was the next dip that counted, "and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy."

Perhaps you feel like giving up today? What if the next dip is the one that counts though? What if today is the day that you will experience God's blessing in your life? What if today is the day you accomplish that goal or see a breakthrough? When you're tempted to quit... don't. Just remember, in the words of Thomas Edison, "Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for the many examples of people who did not give up but obeyed your commands and waited on your timing. Help us to be people that trust your plan even when we don't understand it and to never give up in the face of adversity and trials knowing that you are working all things out in your time and your way. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Calling Glory- Don't give up

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

http://www.runnersworld.com/olympic-trials/this-unsponsored-athlete-has-the-comeback-story-of-the-trials