By Melissa Sharp
“LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Psalm 39:4
As I sat down to prepare a devotional for the Bass Pro Marathon on November 2nd, my thoughts drifted to the ominous weather forecast. As a seasoned runner, the predicted rain and wind were not alarming; but for the first-time racers, I recognized that this could be a very big concern. And so I prayed,
“Lord, what would you have me say to these runners to calm their fears, lift their spirits, and encourage them to press on despite the conditions they might face?”
And so the Lord gave me this message at the starting line and in the midst of the storm…
“Good morning runners and walkers! It’s so great to be out here with you on this beautiful Sunday morning! Now if you’re saying, how can you say this is a beautiful morning with all the rain around us and more coming in later, I hope you’ll choose to remember how blessed you are to have the strength and the ability to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles regardless of the weather today or any other challenge you will face out on the course. Doing this will change your perspective so you can “run with joy” whether it’s raining or the sun is shining; and whether the wind is at your front or at your back.
You see, whether you’re 18 or 80, there WILL come a day when you will no longer be able to run. It happens to everyone… without exception. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, no one is guaranteed continued good health, freedom from injury, and no one escapes the aging process.
King David clearly understood this when he prayed Psalm 39:4: “LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” David prayed to be reminded just how short and unpredictable life is and to thoroughly grasp his limitations, his frailty, and his powerlessness to control the events of each day!
David was reminded by God that he only had a certain amount of time on this earth to do all that God had for him to do. Being reminded of these immutable facts was a priceless blessing to David because it reminded him to appreciate and take full advantage of EVERY moment he had. This was something he could do ONLY because he understood what an undeserved gift each day was and how fleeting each day was.
So no matter what today holds—and it may hold a lot of wind and rain—remember that your days are as numbered as King David’s were and that this day will pass by very quickly. For that reason make the most of it by getting out there and running with a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Choose to count your blessings and choose to be thankful for the rain and storms along the way. Just as in life, each challenge encountered only serves to make reaching the finish line all the more sweeter! We are running for a great prize!”
That day I was overjoyed to see the competitors running with joy.
Yes, the rain came down but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. In fact, there seemed to be more joy out on the course than I recall seeing in years. It’s amazing how that happens when you choose to remember that rain or shine, every day is a gift from God to be used for God.
At the end of my race I want to say with Paul:
”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Heavenly Father, Help us to understand that the wind, the rain, and the storms of life will take many forms as we navigate our days here on earth. Help us to remember that if we keep our eyes on You, we can be both joyful and victorious as we run the race set before us. It’s in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Melissa Sharp is an ultra runner and running coach who has completed more than 100 marathons and ultra marathons. Melissa has learned how to keep running the race of life for the glory of Christ even though she endured decades of domestic abuse. Melissa is a survivor. Through her daily blog thejoyfilledrunner she inspires others to live in the strength of Christ.
2 Responses
What an amazing and inspirational devotion today. God bless
Praise God!