We all have a race to run. It’s our destiny, what we were born to do. When God chose us for His team, for His kingdom, our position was already planned. He even knew the road bumps we would hit along the way. Even though it hurts when we fall and we aren’t sure we can get back up and run the race on the steam we have left, Jesus has already made a way.
When we fall, we lose our sense of focus and bearings. The agony of defeat is almost more unbearable than the physical pain we endure from the fall. With every defeat comes an opportunity for success.
Success might not be dressed the way we thought it would be, success may be disguised in defeat!
Success is ours the moment we choose to rise up out of the dust/snow and continue the race we are called to.
As believers, you and I are part of a team. God called us into His Kingdom and He knit us together so we would be one.
One Body, one heart, one mind all focused on loving the Lord our God.
Showing the depth of that love by loving our neighbor as ourselves.
He has given us the opportunity to be gatekeepers, holding open the gate so others can see the promises of God and learn how to avail themselves of them.
We might feel we have made the biggest mess of our race but God uses everything to strengthen and teach us so we are able to walk forward in wisdom.
He trains us in righteousness, He teaches us there is not a measurable depth to the sozo life He wants us to walk in.
In those moments when our failure is visible to all and shame holds us in its vice grip;
God has made a way for us.
He calls others to come alongside us in our time of need. We may not even know they are there, we are so intent on running our race. When we are listening for the Voice of our Beloved, we will discover He has a way of positioning us ‘just so’ so we will be in the exact spot required to meet a need.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.”
We enter the race when we answer the call of God. My race is different from your race, but we must keep our eyes focused on the race at hand so at the end our Coach King can say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. 
There are so many of us going through difficulties but I think it would make such a huge difference in our lives, if each one of us stood our ground, believed the promises of God and then held them out for another to grab onto.
You see, Jesus hasn’t left any one of us helpless just because we fall and feel our difficulties are insurmountable. He gave us the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and ever present help in time of trouble. And He gave us each other to strengthen and encourage … so instead of giving up when we fall, let’s look for the help God promised would be there for us.
If our walk is strong and steady? Then lets be committed to watching to see where we can meet a need and help our brother or sister to cross their finish line. Let’s not hold back in meeting a need no matter how unconventional it may look.
Remember we are Team Kingdom!
Just a few thoughts as I saw these photos in the news.
With a humble heart of love,
Jeannie
photos courtesy of Globe and Mail
