Running without Weariness

Life is a marathon race not a sprint. From the moment you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior until the moment you cross your finish line into His physical presence, life is a race uniquely laid out for you to run with Him.

How can you and I run and not be weary?

We live in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world, which is no longer good. Satan and those fallen angels are actively working to steal your earthly inheritance (peace, joy, relationship and fellowship with your Creator, rest, victory over and freedom from sin, abundant living); ruin your testimony; and take others down with you.

In the 8^th century BC, the prophet Isaiah wrote these words of encouragement.

Isaiah 40: ²⁸Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

²⁹He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

³⁰Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

³¹But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Wait = hope, expectation,

LORD = the I AM, Jehovah, Yaweh

Renew = to revive, recover, re-establish and restore

Strength =mental and moral power and vigor

Eagles = large, soaring birds noted for their size, strength, vision and power of flight

Run = to perform and compete

Weary =mental and physical exhaustion coupled with dissatisfaction and impatience

Imagine! Some 2900 years ago God was already concerned for your well-being! He knew you and I would get weary. He knew what your life would experience. He provided these words to encourage you. He provided these words to remind you of His love for you.

Are you weary today?

What is the cause of your weariness?

Where are you in your daily devotions?

What has Jesus been saying to you?

Do you really know Jesus cares about you?

How do you see Jesus caring for you in your current circumstances?

Obviously, Jesus knew that your time living in this fallen creation with an active enemy would be hard. During an intimate supper on the night He was betrayed He gave those disciples these words and the Holy Spirit recorded them for your encouragement. John 16:³³These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Peace =freedom from commotion and violence

World =the public in general

Tribulation =grievous trouble, affliction, trial, suffering

Cheer =gladness, gaiety, animation

Overcome = prevail over and gain the victory

What tribulation are you experiencing?

How do you see Jesus gaining victory over that tribulation?

Notice the ‘be of good cheer’ instruction requires an action on your part. It’s a mindset and will require choice and focus. Are you looking at the tribulation or looking at Jesus, our Savior and Lord?

Paul provides these words of comfort.

1 Corinthians 15:⁵¹Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

⁵⁷But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord

Wow! The victory is yours! The victory is given by God through Jesus not earned.

What do these verses from the 8^th century BC to the 1^st century AD mean to you?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will       accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run to obtain your incorruptible crown!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti