Whispers of His Power - 30 Days of Inspirationናሙና

Obstacles

Watching an obstacle race made me think of the race we are called to run. While we are in the middle of loops and tires and ladders and sacks, we may be tempted to forget that they did not put themselves there. They are there on purpose. What would be the point of an obstacle race if there were no obstacles? It would be foolish to say, “Couldn’t you clear these obstacles off the field, and make the race nice and easy?”

And yet, that is exactly what we often ask God to do for us. “Please make it a bit easier, it’s too hard for me.” That is a poor sort of prayer, and there is not a single promise in the Bible which we can take and spread before our Father and say, “See, my Father, You promised to make the race easy.” So, it cannot be the kind of prayer He likes His runners to bring to Him.

There are many promises that we can bring. Here is one. It was written in a letter to people who were running in an obstacle race, and the obstacles were simply tremendous. The author wrote about being properly prepared for the race and about running with patience. He wanted to give them a strong word of comfort, too, so he wrote: “God has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So you may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear.”

Next time we feel like giving up as we jump our bars, or scramble up our ladders, or dive through our rings, or struggle through our old tires, or stagger along in our sacks, let us listen, and we shall hear that word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”