Tip of My Iceberg

photo courtesy of Filip Mroz on Unsplash

When we returned from Arizona, we had five of our grands ready to be embraced by us for two and a half weeks–littles and bigs. Their folks are away, and we were more than willing to step in.

One of them, Sydney, is leaving for college soon and will be playing soccer for her university. Her soon-to-be coach sent her a workout schedule to prepare her for the rigors of beginning college athletics.

She’s been diligent to do everything asked of her.

One morning I helped her with her sprints, which exhausted me just watching her run them. Multiple sprints of different lengths with less than a minute breather between each.

I stood there, phone in hand to time her, yelling encouragements as she ran in the heat and humidity.

I was grateful I wasn’t running with her.

Her determination was impressive. Her best time for one of her 200 yard sprints was 40.63.

With each sprint, however, a second or two was added. She hadn’t stopped pushing herself, but the climate and exertion wouldn’t allow her body to sustain such speeds.

We’re all racing after something or someone–love, security, promotion, recognition, personal achievement, or personal space. We arise each day with to-do lists, expectations, requirements, responsibilities. It’s a race to finish by the end of the day.

We’re also running away from things–fear, guilt, shame, loss, disappointment, feelings of inadequacy. If we keep moving, we won’t have to acknowledge them.

Where’s the happy medium?

Six times in the Bible it shows where Jesus took off by Himself to pray, to be alone with His Father, talking about the things heavy on His heart.

When His cousin, John the Baptist, was beheaded, He went alone to pray through His grief. (Matthew 14:13)

He took time to pray when He had a big decision to make, such as beginning His earthly ministry and choosing His disciples. (Luke 4:1-2; Luke 6:12-13)

In particular, as He was preparing to go to the cross with all the pain it would entail, He spent the night in prayer.

“He walked away, about a stone’s throw (from His disciples), and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering from Me. YET I want YOUR will to be done.’” Luke 22:41-42

Jesus never held back from telling His Father what was on His heart. He was 100 percent Human and 100 percent God, so He was honest with His feelings and yet willing to obey, even in the tough places. His willingness to accept His Father’s will was His strength–and how Jesus is able to help us through the rough places in life.

He’s been through the worst to be able to give us His best.

None of us can sustain a constant racing around in life, whether toward something or away from something. The chance to pause and honestly give it all to God is a way of reordering our priorities and finding hope and peace.

What’s your race about?