Running in Place

One of my favorite verses in all the Bible is Hebrews 12:1. I love when it says, “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

While I am not a runner (unless you include running through the house to get a few more things done before I need to leave as running), I think it’s interesting to think about the different ways people run.

There’s a method of running where you run at full speed. That’s called a “sprint.” Then there’s jogging. That’s where you just kind of run at a leisurely pace.

Personally, if I were a runner, I think I would want to run “full speed ahead” or at least jog. But honestly, sometimes it seems like we are just running in place. We are working hard but it seems like we are going nowhere! What would be the benefit of running in place anyway?

As far as I can see, the benefits would be: (1) you are still burning calories and working out and (2) you are learning patience. Patience! That is definitely not my favorite word. The dictionary says that patience is the power to wait calmly; to persevere.

The next time I feel like I am just “running in place,” I am going to ask God to teach me what I need to learn and to help me persevere, even though it feels like I am going nowhere.

One thing we can be sure of is that God doesn’t waste anything! Even in those “down times” He is working things for our good. We can trust Him. So let’s keep running the race!