Endurance = Pain...
Last weekend I had the privilege of participating in the 6th Annual Steelhead Half-Ironman. My training buddy Jim and I managed to complete the race around the same time (five hours and forty minutes) and as we sat there reviewing the various parts of the race (the highs and lows) it occurred to me; without my dear friend Jim I would have never been able to do this race. It has been said that triathlons are individual efforts because you’re actually racing against yourself; simply trying to set a new personal record. This may be true in a narrow sense, but in a larger sense nothing could be further from the truth.
Last Saturday I learned two significant lessons about endurance: 1) Endurance involves pain. During the last seven miles of the ½ marathon, the last element of a triathlon, my legs and feet were killing me; cramping up to the point where I was forced to walk for 2-3 minutes of every mile. 2) Endurance is not an individual effort. If it were not for Jim who had prepared me for running through the pain, and those along the run course encouraging and cheering us on, I may not have finished.
The same can be said of life; endurance, living through the highs and lows of life, involves pain and it was never intended to be experienced or worked through alone.
Read the following and then think through a few questions at the end…
Romans 8:26-39 (The Message)
26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Questions:
1. What challenges in your life cause you to want to quit or give up? If think you’re exempt from this you’re not being honest…
2. Why do you think that we all face these types of challenges that can cause so much pain? There are no easy answers here…
3. Who do you turn to for help and encouragement along the way?
4. Are you running your race (life) alone, or do you have a network of friends who help you?
5. How do you let Jesus encourage and sometimes carry you during the painful times of life?
Personal note: One of the most painful times in my life was when my wife and I were turned down for adoption the third time. It was agonizingly painful and I still have vivid memories of the rejection and hurt. Along the way, however, Jesus and some dear friends have come alongside and helped us see that life has much more to offer. Furthermore, we can still play a major part in the lives of children around the world, and the best part is unlike “real” parents we don’t have to pay for their college education (just kidding).
Stay strong my friends and endure; even during the pain. You’re not alone…
Ron
Compassion Rules! Live your Life...
Last Saturday I learned two significant lessons about endurance: 1) Endurance involves pain. During the last seven miles of the ½ marathon, the last element of a triathlon, my legs and feet were killing me; cramping up to the point where I was forced to walk for 2-3 minutes of every mile. 2) Endurance is not an individual effort. If it were not for Jim who had prepared me for running through the pain, and those along the run course encouraging and cheering us on, I may not have finished.
The same can be said of life; endurance, living through the highs and lows of life, involves pain and it was never intended to be experienced or worked through alone.
Read the following and then think through a few questions at the end…
Romans 8:26-39 (The Message)
26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Questions:
1. What challenges in your life cause you to want to quit or give up? If think you’re exempt from this you’re not being honest…
2. Why do you think that we all face these types of challenges that can cause so much pain? There are no easy answers here…
3. Who do you turn to for help and encouragement along the way?
4. Are you running your race (life) alone, or do you have a network of friends who help you?
5. How do you let Jesus encourage and sometimes carry you during the painful times of life?
Personal note: One of the most painful times in my life was when my wife and I were turned down for adoption the third time. It was agonizingly painful and I still have vivid memories of the rejection and hurt. Along the way, however, Jesus and some dear friends have come alongside and helped us see that life has much more to offer. Furthermore, we can still play a major part in the lives of children around the world, and the best part is unlike “real” parents we don’t have to pay for their college education (just kidding).
Stay strong my friends and endure; even during the pain. You’re not alone…
Ron
Compassion Rules! Live your Life...
posted by Ron Gelaude at
6:18 AM
1 Comments:
I have been suffering with many different types of pain lately.Its amazing how many sources of relief I have been overlooking.Sometimes something as simple as just asking for help goes right by us.I have been amazed how three basic things in my life.FAITH,FAMILY AND FREINDS could hold so much power.The hardest part is admitting that you need it.
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