Pit Stop

At the beginning of the year, many of us set out with a drive and resolve to do things differently.  We made a decision that we will be better this year than last year.  It is not uncommon to see the gyms filled with people striving for that optimum weight goal. We start setting our minds for that “summer body”.  Our grocery shopping changes. We decided we will eat more fresh and organic food, and less processed food.  We have this grand plan, and it looks and sounds good.  

So with that fresh gym outfit on, new shoes, and the gym bag, off we go.  Day 1. Day 2, Day 3, Day 10, day 12…we look up and we are doing it.  In fact, we are able to go longer than last year. This is the year we will make it.  We even tell people…”yes, this is my year” because in telling people, it becomes real. 

Then boom! Something happens, and we miss a day or two. Next thing we know, a month has gone by. We say..OK…Monday I will start again…and Monday comes and goes….

Soon, we are so far removed from our original goal, that we either tweak it or forget it.  But, how often do we just simply say: “Let me just begin again”

That has been my journey the last several weeks.  Now, if I am honest, I only say “several weeks” because it looks and sounds better than “few months” but the reality is, I made a decision and commitment, and then then boom…life started “lifing”  I remember making the decision and commitment to even do this blog weekly.  I remember not just going live, but telling people about the blog.  I was asked, how often would I post. I boldly stated weekly.  And that was my goal and plan.  And right after that…”life started lifing”  So, week 1 went by, and no post. Ok,no  big deal…let’s make this bi-weekly.  And then next post day came, and still nothing. After awhile, I found myself so far removed from the goal, that I began to wonder, was there even a point of starting over. Maybe I should just let go of the idea of blogging.

The problem was, I did not realize the purpose behind the blogging.  I was talking to someone yesterday, and she was sharing her frustrations.  She was at the verge of giving up. Things were getting harder, the tasks and responsibilities were mounting, and she was not seeing the positive gains or change.  And I get it. We want to see that what we are doing is impactful.  We want to see when we work out, and change our eating habits, the weight falls off, the muscles form, we feel better. This is part of the motivation that keeps us going.  But when we do not see the results, it is easy to just give up and think it does not matter.

So as she spoke, all I could hear, and then say to her is: If He called and brought you to it, He will bring you through it.  And she said again…”but you don’t understand….” and my response remained the same. If He called and brought you to it, He will bring you through it.” 

As I was speaking to her, I was also speaking to myself. I had to remind myself, that Philippians 1:6 says “being confident of this very thing, He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”  In other words, that which He started in us, He will finish it.  God is not the God of start and stop, start and stop…He is the God that finishes what He started.  So if, since God has called me (us) to a certain assignment(s), and placed things in us, started things in us, He will complete it.  

On the racetrack, we see cars that will pull over to the pit for a tuneup. There is a crew waiting at the ready, to give the car and driver what they need to continue the race.  Be it tire changes, gas, give the driver water, etc. Whatever is needed, is given in order for the driver to continue the race.

So, if like me, you have been on the journey, and find that, you may have started, and stopped. Or perhaps, you started, and just driving and running in circles, get the necessary maintenance you need. Refuel with the Word of God.  Allow Him to perform the necessary maintenance and changes needed. And as Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us “….let us lay aside every weight and sin that easily ensnares us, and run the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is not too late to start again. We have had our rest. The necessary maintenance has taken place. So, just like it is said at the start of a race: On your mark! Get set! Go!

Run the race for if He brought and called us to it, He will bring us through it!