Rejoicing Always

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Running gives us many reasons to rejoice. We rejoice when we win a race or hit a goal. We rejoice when we participate in a favorite type of training: a long run (my personal favorite), a tempo run, a trail run, or a run with friends. We rejoice in great running weather and when we have good health.

So do we rejoice only when things go well? Conventional wisdom tells us yes. After all, when it comes to athletics, we rejoice only in victory. I grew up in the Chicago area where a “W” flag over Wrigley Field at the end of the day meant it was time to celebrate. I lived in St. Louis when the Cardinals won the World Series, and I lived in Dallas when the Mavericks won the NBA Championship. I watched victory parades through the city when the teams were #1. There was no rejoicing for finishing in second place.

Paul, the author of Romans, gives us instructions about rejoicing, but interestingly he does not mention the word “victory.” Instead, he tells us to rejoice in hope. We can’t always count on victory; in fact, in this life we will likely have many more struggles, disappointments, and defeats than wins. But we have hope which is a victory in itself, and better than the fleeting victories we experience in life.

We have hope that the very One who created the universe, who performed miracles to reveal Himself, and who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of us. We have hope in the promise of Romans 8:32 that He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all will graciously give us all that we need. We have the hope of a Savior who forgives us and wants to share His kingdom with us.

God knows that we are inclined to look to our circumstances, though, and ignore hope. And so He tells us in this verse to be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer. Not frequent, nor often, but constant. God wants our fellowship with Him to be never-ending. He does not want us to grow weary of pouring our hearts out to Him. He does not want us to give up after a short time or seek Him only when things are going well. Rejoicing, being patient, and praying are all connected. When we are constant in prayer, we rejoice in hope. When we rejoice in hope, we are patient in tribulation. When we are patient in tribulation, we are inclined to pray and rejoice. It’s like a cycle and it’s all a gift.Rejoicing is good for our souls and should not be reserved just for times of victory. Let’s ask God for this gift.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful that You know and want what is best for us. Thank You that You can and will supply all our needs. Help us to seek you constantly. Give us patience in tribulation. And help us always to rejoice in the hope that You have given us – hope that never ends, no matter what life may bring. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Fearing Nothing

Psalm 118:6

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

It has been over eight months since my surgery and running is going well. Now I want to increase my mileage and the intensity of my workouts. There is no blueprint going forward; I just need to be smart and careful in my training and above all trust God. I need to remember that He is on my side.

The Lord is on my side: does this mean that I’m guaranteed to hit all of the running goals I set for myself? No, it means something better – it means that I do not have to fear what lies ahead. There will be trouble, set-backs, and disappointments. But why should I fear or dread them? God is on my side.

So often, though, I forget or ignore that God is on my side. In fact, I start to believe the opposite. When things are going well, I start to think, “Is this all going to come to a crashing halt? Is God going to throw something at me that I don’t want?” And then I start to depend on things other than Him.

I have to turn that thinking around. I need to remember that God is on my side. No matter what He allows in my life, His plan for me is good. He loves me and can be trusted implicitly. That promise is not just for me – it is for you too.

And the next verse goes even deeper into the promise: the author of the psalm says, “The Lord is on my side as my helper.” The original language translates to “The Lord is on my side and takes my part.” God is not just “with” us, watching with a detached perspective to see how we will handle the situation. He doesn’t just cheer us on. He takes our circumstances upon Himself and provides what we cannot. He gives aid, comfort, relief, and power. When we begin to realize this, we can put our trust in Him rather than the things around us. We can focus on Him rather than our circumstances. We can look with hope and peace to the future rather than look to the future with fear and dread.

Are you in a dark place or feeling alone? Or are you in a good place but cannot enjoy it for fear it will not last? Ask God to help you put your trust in Him. Ask Him to open your eyes to see Him there as your helper. Let’s do that together now.

Lord God, often my attitude is one of fear. I worry about the things of this world and I neglect to realize that You are always on my side. I forget that Your love is perfect and You are eternally trustworthy. Open my eyes to see You in all of my circumstances. Help me to live in peace, knowing You are on my side and helping me. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

Unlocking the Door

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Raise your hand if you have ever lost or found a key while running. I have done both. When you realize you have lost your key, panic or dread usually follows. You can be standing at the door of your car or house but without that key you simply cannot get in. Your friend might be with you holding his key – it looks so similar – but it is not the same. No matter how close it looks, it is useless. There is only one key that opens your lock.

Losing a key while running can be a traumatic experience, but eventually you solve your problem and gain entrance. Maybe you call a locksmith or call a family member who has a spare key. But there is a different kind of lock in our lives for which we need a key that is far more critical. It is the lock on Heaven itself – a lock that separates us from God because of sin.

But God loves us and created us out of love for a relationship with Him. He does not want to be apart from us; He does not want us to be locked out. And so He gives us the key: Jesus. And just as only one key is perfectly designed to unlock your house or car, so is Jesus the only key that allows us to enter the presence of God. He is the only way to the Father.

Over the centuries, people have proclaimed that many roads lead to Heaven. They have tried to substitute Christ and His sacrifice with man-made solutions to the lock on Heaven. But Jesus tells us in words that are perfectly clear: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” He alone is the key to God, to Heaven, to the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus’ death on the cross is a gift and His gift is for all who believe. Nonbelievers will look critically at Jesus’ words and say they are exclusive. Well, they are exclusive! Jesus is proclaiming that He is not just “a” way to the Father, He is THE way to the Father. The only way!

And the key that opens Heaven’s doors to us is not just something we will receive after we die. It is something we need now, and something we can behold on this side of Heaven. Jesus is our access to the God of all creation. We can receive His gifts of love, mercy, and forgiveness now. What a bold promise He makes when He says “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Think of how much we need those things right now in the midst of an uncertain and dangerous world.

Let’s not stand on the outside, peering into a locked car or home that we desperately want to climb inside of. Let’s go to Him to unlock the door.

Lord Jesus, we are so thankful that You are the way to our every need and that we do not have to do anything to deserve or earn Your love or the gifts You have for us. Guide us in the way we should go and bless us with your truth and life. In Your strong name we pray, AMEN.