Brace yourself

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." Romans 5:3

While running into a headwind is never fun, it can sometimes be unavoidable as runners in the Foulees des 2 Rives 14k in Brest, France, found out Sunday. As they crossed the Plougastel Bridge, which is nearly 100 feet above the Elorn River and about a half mile in length, wind gusts reached higher than 40 miles per hour forcing runners to brace themselves or even slow down to a walk. This was one day when purposely training to run into the wind would most certainly have paid off. 

You know, while problems and trials in this life are never fun, they are many times unavoidable as well. But the Bible tells us that those are the very things we need to "develop endurance". You see, each small problem that we "run into" prepares us for a bigger one, then a bigger one and so on. And perseverance, or as vocabulary.com defines it, the effort required to do something and keep doing it till the end even if it's hard, is the exact quality that makes us more like Christ who let nothing stop him in his pursuit to fulfill his purpose.

So if you're facing a headwind and experiencing trouble, hardship or a set-back today, consider it training my friend. Brace yourself, hold on tightly to the promises of Jesus and "rejoice" that you are getting stronger.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that reminds us that problems and trials are useful and necessary to strengthen our faith and to make us into the people that you can use. Help us then to rejoice knowing that you are with us through them and that we will come out better trained to battle what lies ahead. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org 

Mandisa - Stronger

https://youtu.be/MrcIN54E7Kk

 

http://www.runnersworld.com/briefs/watch-the-wind-in-this-french-race-is-insane