His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lam. 3:22–23)
I AM ALWAYS AMAZED at the endurance factor built into an Iron Man contestant. When I watch those kinds of races from a comfortable chair in my living room, I shake my head and wonder why anyone would do such a thing. Some organizations have increased their triathlons to unimaginable “ultra” lengths, requiring days of torturous running, cycling, swimming, and more running. The images of contestants struggling to finish one more leg of the course are excruciating to watch. Conditions can be brutal, and we wonder how they ever cross the finish line alive.
But what is truly beyond my comprehension is that most participants are fully recovered and back to their training regimen within a week or so. Their highly disciplined bodies return to normal, ready for the next race that will test the limits of stamina and determination. These athletes know that with the proper care, they will race again and again without fail.
The race of life can often beat us up, tear us down, bruise our bodies, and test our faith. But if we are properly trained and acknowledge where our strength comes from (God’s Spirit within), we can endure through the tough times. How wonderful to know that when we rest in His love we will revive our hope and reward our courage with a fresh start every day. Let the race begin! Again!
Be on the lookout today for signs of God’s compassion.
Jan Cline is the mother of three and grandmother of seven. She loves golfing, camping, singing, and speaking to Christian women’s groups.
