Entangled Racer

Devotional: Applying the Bible to my today.

Read: Hebrews 12:1-3

Sparse amounts of supporting family and friends joined me in cheering. As each participant came around Corner #2, their face first showed the frustration of climbing a hill against the wind, but then they experienced a jolt of joy and adrenaline when hearing the crowd and volunteers shout their names!

Only one participant responded unexpectedly. Chris turned toward the cheering crowd as he came around the first time, and then just stopped and stared into the distance. He didn’t go up the hill or back down. He wasn’t waving at parents or friends. He just stopped.

No encouragement moved him along, and I had no idea what he was staring at until he took off his gloves, raised his eyebrows and began to smooth his hair. Just behind the crowd, was a beautiful, luxury home that had highly reflective windows from top to bottom. Chris was fixated on his own reflection!

He was slightly taller than me, so I stepped right between he and his reflection and stood on my tip-toes blocking his view. With a bit of frustration, he took a step up the hill so he could catch site of himself again; therefore, I took a step up. Then he did it again, and I did it again, and again, and again… He finally made it past the house and was able to focus on the race once again with no hesitation.

As Chris rounded Corner #2 the second time, a similar scenario ensued but this time the crowd and other volunteers linked arms creating a wall blocking the reflection, which allowed Chris to move forward with ease. Each time around was the same, but he eventually completed the entire course with great pride!

Circumstances rarely stifle a race because they are actually part of the course; what does stifle a race are things that entangle us yet blind us to their presence, such as misguided ambition, pride, fear, pursuit of flattery, continual offense, a quick temper, and idolizing emotions (among other things that are referred to as sin in the bible). Though very subtle to us and difficult to acknowledge, in time, these things exhaust us and rob our endurance and hope for a successful race.

The good news is that there is literally no extent to which we can be entangled that God’s grace does not abound still more to free us. It may seem cliché, but the only way to get back into the race is to place our eyes squarely on Jesus.

There are some circumstances that are so blatantly painful or unfathomable that you must to choose to either look at Jesus or turn your back to Him. But life’s mundane scenarios can pass us by with nary a thought of Him, tempting us to only consider how does it affect me?… Then as one mundane day piles on top of another, where might we find ourselves?  Disgruntled? Unfulfilled?

When our eyes are focused on Jesus, we can consider all He endured and why He endured it. Our faith will grow as we recognize He is all-knowing and all-powerful, and it is His intention to distill that power into each of us individually and the Church as a whole. He arms us, guides us, comforts/nourishes us and He gives us a hope that will not disappoint.

On the days in which I stay focused on Him, I find myself less likely to lose heart and much more likely to be awe-inspired and infused with endurance.

• What is most likely to entangle you?
• Chris had a team of people that helped him get back on track. Is there someone wise and close to you that can redirect you when you’re off-track? Do they know they have your permission to redirect/confront you?
• Practically speaking, what does it look like to keep your eyes focused on Jesus?

Father, help us to recognize the subtle ways in which our race has been stifled. What does it look like to keep our eyes squarely focused on You? Teach us! Thank You so much that You provide a grace that is so much greater than anything that entangles us. Amen.

Are you looking for a hope that will not disappoint? Find out more.