In 1992, Derek Redmond, a British runner who competed in the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Game for the 400-meter run had snapped his hamstring causing him to fall in the middle of his race. He didn’t take home the gold, nor the silver or the bronze, but his story had surely brought so much inspiration to many people all around the world. This runner didn’t win but he finished the race strong with his Dad carrying him through the finish line. This story will surely inspire you to get up and not give up!
Running a race is definitely challenging. It takes discipline, endurance, and perseverance to win the game. Athletes, runners in particular, often fixed their eyes on the goal and they make it their motivation as they run in the track.
Winning the gold is probably the goal of every athlete who competes in the Olympics. Athletes train day in and day out, week in and week out, for months and even years for the goal of being on top of their game. However, this particular story teaches us that it’s not about winning but it is about finishing the race and finishing it strong.
The truth is we on a race. The question is how are you running your race today? Are you running with discipline, perseverance, and endurance? Or are you lying in the middle of the track wondering if you should get up or give up?
I hope that giving up is not an option for us. Like Derek, we may fall at times, but know that our Father will carry us through this race. He is willing not just to run this race with us but to also share with every pain that we experience along the way. With this, I was reminded of this popular poem by Mary Stevenson:
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.”Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way.But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,there was only one set of footprints.I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Never, ever, during your trials and testings.When you saw only one set of footprints,It was then that I carried you.”
Derek’s story is a great reminder that our Dad got your back. So stand up! Do not let those pains stop you from running. Yes, that pain is real but our Father is also real. So continue to take those steps of faith and finish this race strong! We can run this race with perseverance because in the first place Jesus had already won the victory for us. He is not just cheering on us from behind or running this race with us. He, ultimately, has also gone ahead of us, waiting for us at the finish line, celebrating with us as we finish this race.
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith.”— Hebrews 12:1-2