Encouragement Makes all the Difference

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 NLT

In a story titled “Former WSU runner Paul Ryan almost hung up his spikes, but he’s still kicking toward his Olympic dream,” published yesterday, it was reported that Ryan will compete in the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. This was something that almost didn't happen after Paul concluded a solid if not spectacular college career in 2021, making All-America after finishing eighth in his final 1,500 race in 3:40.5 at the NCAA championships, just off the Olympic Trials qualifying standard. If Ryan had his way, this ‘just off’ to meet the qualifying standard would have been the end of his professional running, but… At the urging of a friend, instead of hanging up his spikes and calling it a career, Ryan ran a couple of more races, and made the trials standard. Thanks to his friend’s encouragement, Ryan will be taking part in his second Olympic Trials on Friday, chasing Bernard Legat’s record – if only theoretically – and his own dreams of reaching the Trials finals and possibly claiming a spot on the Olympic team.

And you know, when it comes encouraging others, you and I would do well to look for ways to give support, confidence, and hope to our brothers and sisters who might also be on the verge of ‘hanging up their spikes’ because of their failure to reach God’s standard. You see, as the Bible clearly tells us, “we all fall short of God’s glorious standard,” but… we can inspire others to keep pressing on by sharing with them that, despite their shortcomings, we are all made right in God’s sight by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which “freed us from the penalty of our sins.” 

So let us remember that encouragement has great power my friend. By our words, we can literally change the course of a person’s destiny by motivating them to follow their dreams of claiming the prize, despite their perceived lack of success. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the encouragers in this world who remind us that failure to meet your standard is not the end of anyone’s story. Help us to be those people who inspire others to keep pressing on despite how far they feel they have fallen short by reminding them that Jesus loved them so much that He died for them. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!