Just Keep Going

I'll start by sharing an experience that challenged me to keep going despite the pain and obstacles. Last week I went hiking with my sister and my husband. and there. The trail is 9 miles and goes around a beautiful lake. We started off well at a steady pace and I was enjoying the sights. By the last 2 miles, it took an ugly turn for me when my right foot started hurting at the arch. The problem was that you couldn't turn around because the trail was a circle. Also, because of the pain, I just wanted to get back so I did not allow myself to stop.

When we arrived home, I was in a lot of pain. My hips hurt. My knees hurt and my right arch hurt too. I felt as if my bones had been crushed. I had hiked before, but this time it was different because of the pace and because of the pain. But as I walked, I realized that our relationship with God is similar: we just have to keep going. We know we have an enemy who wants us to give up. He'll use pain and difficult circumstances to distract us.

Needless to say, the last 2 miles were the hardest. By the end, the pain had spread and I was exhausted. But when I finished that 9 mile walk in 3.5 hours I realized that giving up was not an option. Turning around was not an option either. Here are 3 things the Lord reminded me of for when the journey is long:

1. Keep your eyes on the finish line: Hebrews 12:1 says to run the race with perseverance. Perseverance means to keep going. It means to be steadfast and and to keep putting effort. There are times when we feel like giving up because of the pain. It seems like you can't go on, but in verse 2 it says to "fix your eyes on Jesus." Jesus is our finish line. Jesus is the one we are after. When we are determined to get to the finish line it reminds us that God will provide. Whether we need strength, wisdom or healing, God will provide exactly what we need.

2. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and walk with you: My teammates were my husband and my sister. They saw me struggle, but they kept me going. They made sure I made it. We need people who will encourage us, who will give us a word of wisdom and who will hear us too. If you don't have someone like that, ask God to bless you with people like that. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 shows us that 2 are better than 1 because they can help each other.

3. Leave the baggage: When you hike for long distances you carry water and other necessary supplies in a hiking backpack. Any extra things will weigh you down and tire you out. Many times we are carrying baggage that weighs us down. That baggage drains our faith, hope and strength. The extra baggage can even cause a strain. 1 Peter 5:7 teaches us to give all our concerns to God because He cares. It's a relief to know that we don't have to do it on our own. When we give up our worries and concerns it relieves us because the burden has been lifted!

So if you're struggling, remember God is with you. :)