The Stalwart Runner

You're in a race. It's a marathon. At times it's perfect--everything you could hope a marathon to be. During those times you sing as you run, you smile as you run, you praise as you run. The sky is blue, the clouds are puffy, the breeze cool. You love running!

At about mile thirteen you get a thorn in your heel. What began as an irritating nuisance has become a prickling, agonizing, distraction. With each step pain shoots through your foot. You endure.

More running. More pain. Yet, you endure. There's no stopping on this race--only the finishers get a crown. So you endure some more.

You decide at mile seventeen running isn't all that fun. The wind blows dust into your eyes. The sun beats down on you in a merciless, unbroken gaze. Everything hurts. Each step is hard. You wonder how you ever loved running before. You cry... you yell... you pray... you question... but all while running. You're a runner, and runners run.

Your thoughts are DOMINATED by the thorn. Why would God allow such a thing to hinder and hamper your marathon? What purpose could it possibly serve? You ask God; Can I stop running now? Just for a while? Just for a day? But you pray while running, because you're a runner--and runners run.

At mile twenty you feel a surge of energy. Strength from an unseen force has filled you with resolve. And on you run. At mile twenty-one your joy is restored. You run with joy! Yes, you love running! You remember now! At mile twenty-two a stranger offers you a cup of cool water. Ahhhh, better now! You run refreshed. You run joyful. You run strong! At mile twenty-three a song of worship bubbles up from your spirit--the same spirit that felt broken and faithless only three miles ago. It's a new song, one that begs to be sung. And you praise as you run, singing the new song of exultation! You love running!

Mile thirty you're still strong, you're still joyful, you're still singing, you're still smiling. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, one step after another--when a thought hits you: What about the thorn? And as you run, you put your attention on your heel to find in surprise, the thorn remains. The pain still present. The sting still stinging. God hadn't taken it away--but only eclipsed it with the joy of running.

At the end of the race a crowd waits; Your mother, arms stretched out. Your Dad, with hugs and loving words. There are friends at the finish line that had ended their race before you. Favorite pastors, Sunday school teachers, co-workers, neighbors. Lives you had touched, lives that had touched yours. All waiting. All clapping. All encouraging. Many told you of their own thorns, and you were surprised. You thought your thorn had indicated God's disapproval. You never realized that many, many, many others had run with thorns themselves. But they had. And so had you. And, you all had finished. You could have quit. You could have refused to continue on--but you didn't.

And then...Jesus. He's behind the crowd of friends and family. He stands with a smile, and a song. And while he walks toward you he is singing. With long strides he makes His way through the crowd, singing loudly. Unbelievingly you smile shyly and look behind you to make sure it's you he's singing to. Yes! He's singing to you! A song of love, a song of joy, a song of pride. A song so personal... so private... so intimate... that the crowd fades from your mind as your Savior and friend walks toward you to welcome you home.

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."Zephaniah 3:17

And what about the thorn? Well... His grace was sufficient, His power made perfect, and when you were weak, He was strong.