Have you ever watched the Tour de
France? Bicyclists power through the mountains in Europe, often topping speeds
of 70 mph on their descent. This can make for horrific crashes when a cyclist
misjudges a curve, slick road, or the distance between him and the cyclist next
to him.
The race takes more than three
weeks to complete, with 2,200 miles of rough terrain of the Pyrenees and the
Alps intermixed with beautiful rolling countryside. Time trials are also part
of the tour. Those riders who endure the entire race cross the finish line on
the historical Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Power and speed are two integral
components of the race, but the most important factor is pacing—much like
marathon running. This is particularly true in time trials, where riders get to
demonstrate their individual strength.
While full-speed crashes are less
likely because time trials are very calculated and controlled, many factors can
derail a racer’s success. Early fatigue from pressing too hard, lack of good
preparation, yielding to outside or internal influences, and not enough
training are just a few.
We can look at our spiritual lives
and see similarities. We often zip through life with an overloaded calendar
filled with more commitments than we can hope to accomplish well, and we pray
that there isn’t a curve or slick road ahead.
Then a trial hits. Trials are
mind-bogglingly slow and require the power that comes from the Holy Spirit to
get through them. Getting alone with God through Bible study, peaceful prayer,
and waiting is imperative for a successful outcome. Waiting isn’t something
most of us are naturally geared toward.
In the Old Testament, Jeremiah
finds himself in a desperate situation of trying to warn Judah of their
impending doom while also trying to encourage them to renew their covenant with
God. Jeremiah complained, felt depressed, and often showed downright despair.
After one such complaint, in Jeremiah 12:5, God responded with “If you have
raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with
horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by
the Jordan?”
Basically, God said the trial is
for your own good—to strengthen you for the tasks ahead. But he doesn’t just
leave you there.
Don’t
lose heart during a trial. There’s a promise of the finish line. The trial
doesn’t last forever.
First Peter 1:6-7 reminds us that
trials are “for a little while” and that we should rejoice in this. Trials have
come to prove “genuineness of your faith”—of greater worth than gold.
We’re
told how to run. Hebrews
12:1-2 reminds us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith.”
And
lastly, be encouraged by the outcome. James 1:2-12 gives us great encouragement
that “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the
test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to
those who love him.”
We can persevere with God’s
sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9) and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Then we are refined to walk out our faith to help others going through similar
trials, and in the end, receive the crown of life the Lord promised to those
who love Him.
The Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7-8
said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also
to all who have longed for his appearing.”
So feel confident that when the
trial comes—you’ve trained for it, and the Master Coach will walk beside you,
ensuring you don’t fatigue until you reach the end.
Isn’t that a great promise to hold
on to?
What are your go-to Bible verses in times of trouble? Is there a time you can look back on and know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that God carried you through?
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Blog photos courtesy of
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Laura Hodges Poole is the author and co-author of several books, available on Amazon. Her Christian romance novel, Return to Walhalla, recently released. She is the 2016 ACWC
Badge of Honor winner, 2014 ACFW Genesis semi-finalist, and 2012 RWA Emily finalist. Laura is also a
non-fiction ghostwriter/collaborator. Her passion is encouraging others through
her blog, "A
Word of Encouragement." When she’s
not writing, you might find her hiking, playing the piano, or being crafty. A
mother of two, Laura lives in South Carolina with her husband.
Walhalla is Tommy McAllister’s
life. Between his family’s feed-and-seed store and the bank he’s vice president
of, he’s stretched thin trying to survive the recession. But when a girl he
hasn’t seen since high school breezes back into town, he’s ready to push
himself even further to help her feel at home—and convince her to stay. He
reaches out to Penny, but the last thing she wants is to be trapped in a small
town that holds painful memories—one dark secret in particular.
The town matchmaker and bank
manager, Miss Betty, a motherless teen Emma who lives down the lane from Penny,
and the church ladies of Walhalla’s First Baptist add both heartwarming and
challenging moments to Penny’s life.
With the past dogging Penny’s
steps, dredging up painful memories she’s tried to outrun, relatives threaten
the future she has begun to hope for…But somewhere deep inside her, a spark of
hope remains. Tommy isn’t the only one praying for a miracle.
Click here to read a FREE Preview of Return to Walhalla.
