Enduring in Faith

It was an unseasonably hot April day as I prepared to start my last leg of the trail relay. My prior leg, an 8-plus mile jaunt, had gone well. I managed to keep my desired pace despite the rising temperature. That now seemed like a mistake. Silently, I took the bracelet from my teammate and set off on my final section. Despite what should have been adequate rehydration and nutrition, I had little left in the tank and wondered if I would even be able to finish as the thermostat now registered 95 degrees fahrenheit!

The trail was deserted (which was either very good or very bad), and there was little to take my mind off the misery I was in. I prayed to God for strength, and was able to keep a reasonable pace throughout. With a third of a mile to go, the end was in sight! I could see the transition area and the race staff waiting to record my team number. What I did not see, was my teammate. I would be at the transition in fewer than 2 minutes, and there was no one to pass the bracelet to. I will confess that my first thoughts were uncharitable and selfish. “What are they doing?” “I have worked so hard to make it, and now that effort will be negated by having to wait.” Within 100 yards of the transition, I prepared myself for a dead stop and wondered how much time the team would lose.

Just then, I heard my teammate’s voice as he bounded down the hill and across the bridge to the trail – “I got you!” He crossed the bridge at precisely the right moment, extended his arm to receive the slap bracelet, and disappeared down the trail. Despite my doubts, he had arrived on time, as promised.

When God called Moses to go first to his people and then to Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, he resisted, unsure of his ability to complete the task. God reminded him that it was HIS strength that would carry Moses, not Moses’ own. God promises Moses that, though Pharaoh will initially resist (Ex. 3:19, 4:21), eventually he will prevail. Despite this, when the promised resistance comes, Moses turns to God and accuses him of failing to deliver.

Just as I wanted to see my teammate earlier than I needed to, Moses wanted even more reassurance that God would fulfill his promise. He did not yet trust God’s timing which, like all of his attributes, is perfect. God repeatedly says to us, in different words “I got you.” His kingdom WILL come, his will WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven. There will be suffering on the way, but the victory is assured. Let us live, and run the race set before us, in light of that good news.