Running the race GOD has set before us (Hebrews 12:1) can be very much like a boot camp testing race or like the annual Spartan race. Two years running my daughter Shirley trained for and ran the Spartan Race. The course is extremely hard and daunting- going up and over and crawling under things and through the mud as you can see in the picture showing her receiving her metal. But by sheer determination and the encouragement of her teammates she made it to the finish line both times, exhausted but full of joy.
Seeing a need and wanting to help I have rushed ahead without thinking and committed to projects that were overwhelming or at least too much for me. Plowing through to the end is sometimes excruciatingly hard, but what awesome joy I feel when I have achieved the goal and completed what needed to be done. As I have gotten older my body doesn’t completely co-operate and I am limping to the finish line and then laid up a day or so afterwards.
Well, JESUS laid aside HIS GOD powers and glory, stepped out of heaven and onto the earth and took on a project as a human man that took HIS all: blood, sweat and tears and then some…
Beginning by coming to earth as a little helpless baby, about 33 years later JESUS finished up HIS project to make a way for us (mankind) to be reconciled to GOD by paying for man’s sin on the cross. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that as HE hung on the cross bearing our sin that HE set the joy of what HE was achieving (the bringing of many to GOD) before HIS eyes. Even though HE despised the shame HE chose to focus on what would be achieved not on HIS pain nor on the unfairness of it all and thus was enabled to stay the course.
Just as the pain JESUS endured achieved wonderful things, GOD tells us that our struggles in life are achieving for us. As JESUS showed us, we need to focus on what is being achieved and not on the struggle we are enduring for the struggle is temporary but what is being achieved is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
You know how you feel when you have completed a large project? The greater the challenge the more the joy of accomplishment. Right? Well, In Isaiah GOD tells us that is true also concerning JESUS .
Isaiah 53:11 When HE sees all that is accomplished by HIS anguish, HE will be satisfied.
Let’s choose to follow the pioneer of our faith who focused on the joy of what HE would accomplish and was enabled to endured the torture and shame of the cross (Hebrews 12:2). If you are in a rough place, don’t focus on what you can see… your situation, but rather focus on what you can’t see yet… that which GOD is achieving for you through that very set of circumstances… You too will be satisfied when you see all that GOD has accomplished through your anguish! (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).
Consider these things and may the good LORD give you wisdom and understanding (James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:10) as HE guides you with HIS peace (Colossians 3:15), strengthens you with HIS joy (Nehemiah 8:10), and enables you with HIS grace (Hebrews 4:16). Keep looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2) and talk over your thoughts with HIM (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 