Recently I underwent knee replacement surgery. The first two weeks were painful, but I made great progress and impressed the surgeon and the physical therapist. Then it got harder. The great gains I made in the beginning became smaller. I was able to do more so frequently overdid it which resulted in more pain. The more strenuous physical therapy resulted in sore muscles on top of the pain in the knee. I was mentally tired of the stiffness that made it hard to walk and was told that wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. I was physically tired from lack of sleep due to an inability to get comfortable and the wrong movement sending pain through my leg and waking me up. I was tired of the race.
But God brought Hebrews 12:1-3 to mind. He encouraged me to persevere and not give up. He reminded me that Jesus endured far more than I have but did not give up even when facing the cross. Life can be challenging and it’s easy to get discouraged at times, but we can’t give in to the discouragement. We aren’t alone during the difficult times. We need to remember to fix our eyes on Jesus not our circumstances. We must run the race, not just in the beginning when it’s exciting and we’re seeing progress but later on when it’s monotonous and hard. When I grow weary of the race and want to jump to the finish line, I need to remember I’m not running the race alone, nor am I running it on my own strength, I can keep going. I can finish the race.
Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
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