It was around noon on a stormy March day several years ago. I (Mike) had been running for around five hours on a soggy trail in the middle of Mississippi. I was making good time in an ultra-marathon since I was too crazy to stop and rest.
The rain was so severe that I could not see ten feet in front of my face. The lightning was striking. Runners were quitting. Charity, my bride, was worried sick in a hotel room several miles away from the race venue, hearing the news that her Paw-Paw had passed.
There we were. Stuck in an uncomfortable reality. One of us was pressing on toward victory. The other was pressing on toward loss.
Can you relate?
Sometimes growth and change come from success, and at other times, they can come from tragedy and difficulty. Both Charity and I had “tired legs.” It just looked different.
How can we have joy in un-comfortability? These are simple ideas but good reminders.
- Press on toward the prize. Philippians 3:12-14 summarizes this idea. We are “pressing on toward the goal” of eternal glory, Heaven, in Jesus Christ. Some days, this is easier than others. Sometimes you know where the finish line is, like in the race I was running. Sometimes you don’t like the one Charity was running. In both, keep pressing on.
- Stay focused on Jesus. Matthew 6:33 states that we should seek Jesus first. In pain, victory, difficulty, or plenty, we can keep our eyes and focus on Jesus. It is easy to be distracted by the storm or isolation around us. In Matthew 14, Peter continued on His journey toward Jesus while his eyes were fixed on the Master’s. But, when Peter looked away, He began to sink. Are you sinking? Then, stay focused on Jesus.
- Expect difficulty AND peace. Jesus promises trouble and peace in John 16:33. The Man of Sorrows was familiar with this journey (Isaiah 55). Yes, we will have difficulty. But, yes, we can have peace.
With less than 5 miles to go, my legs went flat. I was tired, wet, cold, and weary. Five miles and over 26,000 feet to run. It might as well have been another marathon. I slowed to a walk and then stopped. No one was around. I drank the little electrolyte mix I had left and swallowed some energy gel.
“One more step.” That is what I said. Then, I took one more step. I repeated the phrase, “One more step.” Before I knew it, I was running again. The finish line was in my mind and eventually in sight. Oh, the joy. Oh, the peace.
Press on, my friend—one step at a time. Press on.
