“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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 1: 1-3)
I have come to the conclusion that life is an obstacle course. The interesting thing about obstacle courses is that they are meant to be completed. They are not designed for failure – but for success. Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No.
Athletes train and practice. They learn to overcome each obstacle, each obstacle being different in some way. No doubt each that trains on an obstacle course reaches seemingly impossible challenges. And I am sure that they have a coach who encourages them, saying, “You can do this, you will learn how to conquer this.”
The more I look at the events in my life, I realize that each event has challenged me to grow and learn and overcome. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? God assures us that no, nothing is impossible with Him.
So, as new obstacles enter our lives – we can be assured that they are not placed in front of us in order to defeat us, but rather to challenge us to be stretched and learn.
Our coach? The creator of the course of our lives. He is the one who is cheering us on, knowing we will learn and grow and one day, complete the race in victory. It is He who grants us the ability to persevere and finally – reach the finish line.
The next time you encounter a seemingly impossible obstacle remember that no matter what it is, God is there cheering you on, encouraging you, and strengthening you so that you will face that challenge victoriously. We might temporarily falter, or feel we will fail, but God did not design us for failure. He designed us for success in the obstacle course we call life.
And at the end? A loving “Well done.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank you that at the seemingly impossible moments, at the horrendous hurdles we encounter, that you will always, always, always provide the way through as we cling to you in faith and grow in endurance. Amen.
About the Author:
deni weber believes that the only true way to deal with chronic challenges is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her challenges have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest desire that her lessons may be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness. Her website is http://www.pathwaysforchange.com/Encouragement – deni can be reached at encouragingwords@me.com
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 