One of the passages we memorized as a Pastoral Team is probably quite familiar to many of you:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
HEBREWS 12:1-2
The line that really struck me for today is right there in the middle, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”.
Wednesdays are interesting, they also land right in the middle and divide up the week into two parts. The beginning part can drag a little and as the weekend draws nearer things (hopefully) begin to speed up.
Honestly though, sometimes as I’m waiting for that really exciting thing/event/time just around the corner, that’s when everything seems to slow down even more and running with perseverance is the furthest thing from my mind.
I am not a runner. Unless it’s for the ice cream truck or to catch a bus. Even then, I tend to run quick stints… I dunno, maybe that makes me a sprinter, haha. The point here is not to remind myself how low my athletic abilities are, but to consider how little I know about running with perseverance.
I’m probably not the one to go to for marathon training tips… My instinct when it comes to learning how to persevere is to take breaks, to rest in order to help sustain you.
But in a long-distance running race, stopping is likely the last thing a person should do!
Last night I got to attend the Maverick City concert downtown at Ontario Place. And as I worshiped with thousands of people from my spot out on the lawn I had this stunning view of the city skyline at the same time.
I think one of the tricks of the trade for persevering and running the race marked out for us is one of their songs… which is ultimately another familiar passage:
“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
ISAIAH 40:30-31
Paul doesn’t write to the Hebrews and tell them to run with perseverance and outline a bunch of steps they have to fulfill in order to do so. He simply tells them to fix their eyes on Jesus.
Isaiah doesn’t explain why the youths grew tired and weary or how the young people were stumbling and falling… that wasn’t the point. The point was for the People of God to put their hope in the Lord. Because GOD is the one to renew their strength.
Our goal is to keep going. To press on and to persevere. I’m not telling y’all to quit taking breaks because there is certainly wisdom there. I am however, encouraging all of us, myself included, to fix our eyes on Jesus as we do so.
Whether you are wrestling through your Wednesday, or flying through it, fix your eyes on Jesus and shift your hope away from the weekend and place it in the Lord – in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The one who perfects faith. The one who sustains you and changes your reality to be one of soaring like an eagle.
Consider having a listen to this song by Maverick City and reflecting on the ways you might be struggling. But don’t stop there! Ask the Lord what’s next for you in the midst of these struggles; renew your strength by surrendering yourself, your friends & family, and your situation to God once more.