The Christian Life & Suffering: Finish the Race

{When running the race feels more like walking with a limp.}

I run (okay, fine, I walk) the same 3 mile route every time I exercise. I have a bad hip, and I can tell you exactly when my hip will start bothering me. But I press on because I can also tell how far I have to go before the journey is over. Then I’m home, I can put my feet up, take some Aleve, and feel good again.

If only suffering and the Christian life were the same. If only we knew the exact distance we had to go before the journey of suffering were over. But we don’t.

If the Christian life is running the race, let’s face it . . . somedays it’s just.plain.hard. Your hip hurts, it’s too hot outside, you're dehydrated, you’re lonely, etc.

The friend who prayerfully waits for a spouse has no idea how long she’ll have to wait.
The wife who longs for baby has no idea how much longer until God to opens her womb.
The man who seeks relief from a stressful job has no idea how long he’ll have endure.
The widow who is still alone after 10 years has no idea how much longer until the loneliness lifts.
The friends who lost their baby have no idea how much time will pass between heaven and earth to hold him again.

But that’s the thing . . . we can’t just give up. We can’t stop, we can’t stand still and just “wait”. Scripture tells us to run. Keep moving . . . keep pursuing. . . press on toward the goal.

When my body aches I can’t just sit on the corner of the street and call it day. I have to push through the pain to get back home. Even if it means limping the rest of the way home.

And that’s just it. Sometimes the Christian life is learning to walk with a limp. It may not be easy, you may not be the fastest, but you’re continuing on. We don’t know how long until we’re home, we don’t know if the weather will heat up or cool down, we just have to keep going.

We may not be the first to cross the finish line, or be in the best shape, but that’s okay. Keep going. Keep running. Keep walking. Keep limping.

Because let’s face it. Which story is more inspiring? Usain Bolt that fastest man in the world who wins the gold because of his own strength and training?


Or Oscar Pistorius, the man with prostethetic legs who trains and runs the race anyway?

He probably won’t win, he may even finish last, but His perseverance is inspiring.

I don’t care what “place” I come in, I just want to finish the race. I may be limping now, but I’ll press on.

*PS For those of you who are sprinters . . . those of you who are strong, who are healthy,who’ve got it going on, if you don’t mind slowing down to run along side us who are limping, that would be great. We could use the encouragement, the friendship, and the extra hand.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Theology of Waiting

Started this book about a month ago. Short book, deep thoughts.



Andrew Murray says waiting on God is the greatest place to be . . . because waiting on God is the way to knowing God. It's a place of deep dependence and deep trust in the LORD. It's a place of surrendering your will to His.

Waiting is knowing.
Waiting is depending.
Waiting is trusting.
Waiting is surrender.
In.God.Alone.

"Give God His glory by resting in Him, by trusting Him fully, by waiting patiently for Him. This patience honors Him greatly; it leaves Him, as God on the throne, to do His work; it yields self wholly inot His hands. It lets God by God." (p.31)

"The word patience is derived from the Latin word for suffering. . . Patience then becomes our highest blessedness and our highest grace. It honors God, and gives Him time to have His way with us. It is the highest expression of our faith in His goodness and faithfulness. It brings the soul perfect rest in the assurance that God is carrying on His work. It is the token of our full consent that God should deal with us in such a way and time that He thinks best. True patience is the losing of our self-will in His perfect will." (p.37)

Easier said than done Andrew Murray!

Do you view waiting as a gift of grace?
Do you view at as blessing to deepen your dependance on the LORD?
As way to strengthen your faith?
Do you find contentment in the wait?
Do you seek to be strengthened by the strength of His might?

Me neither. But I'm LEARNING to be content in my circumstances (Philippians 4:11). Learning. Growing. Waiting. Trusting.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . ." (Psalm 37:7)

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14)

Exhausted, Yet Pursuing

“And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.” (Judges 8:4)

Exhausted, yet pursuing. Do you ever feel this way about your relationship with the LORD?

Exhaust: to drain of strength or energy, wear out, or fatigue greatly

Gideon who barely had enough faith to obey just a few chapters before, has been fighting battles on behalf of the Israel, in pursuit of the LORD. His time is not yet up, and so he presses on in obedience, exhausted yet pursuing. I love that.

Have you been praying a prayer for years, exhausted in waiting, exhausted from hoping?

Have you been on a journey that is taking every last bit of energy from you? Worn out, tired, ready to wave the white flag?

Keep pursuing. Don’t give up! And even if you don’t see the rewards this side of heaven, keep pressing on. Tired as you may be, keep pursuing. Soon the battle will be won and the LORD will grant a time of rest.

Fix your eyes on what is unseen.
Run with endurance.
Fight the good fight.
For great is your reward in heaven.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven . . .” (Matthew 5:12)