Never, ever give up
Written By Dianna Hobbs // EEW Magazine Online // Devotions
My son Kedar is a huge NASCAR fan who loves talking about the races and his favorite driver, Jimmie Johnson. Yesterday, Kedar shared an interesting fact about the Daytona 500, which is the most prestigious race in NASCAR. It’s a 500-mile-long race with 200 laps, and it’s held once a year at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
“Did you know the Daytona 500 track is so big that it can be raining on one side of the track and not on the other?” Kedar asked me.
“Wow, no, I didn’t know that,” I said, fascinated. The track is so big, in fact, USA Today says 15 stadiums can fit inside Daytona’s international speedway. That’s enormous!
After Kedar shared this fun fact with me, I couldn’t get it off my mind because it made me think of a lesson worth sharing. In life, you may be on the same track with someone but on a different side. It may be raining in your life while the sun is shining in theirs, but if you stay in the race, eventually, you’ll get to the sunny side too.
Everyone’s race is unique, even if it has some similarities. Each of us goes through ups and downs; you may be up while I’m down or vice versa. There are no permanent seasons. Change is inevitable, and that’s good news, especially when you’re on the rainy, stormy side of the track.
In Hebrews 12:1-2, Paul styles our Christian journey as a race that we must run with perseverance. In hard times, he tells us to focus our attention on Jesus who endured the immense cruelty and shame of the cross, because the Messiah knew the joy that would come after the pain. Calvary was a brutal lap in Jesus’ race. He was beaten, mocked, scorned and hung to take away the sins of the whole world. But after Jesus completed His race, something wonderful followed. He was reunited with His Father in Heaven and is now seated at His right hand.
In verse 3, Paul says, “Consider him… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” In our battle against the spiritual opposition and daily challenges that threaten to distract and hinder us from successfully finishing our race, we must consider Jesus. We have to draw from His example which gives us strength to stay in the race, even during the brutal laps.
“Where you place your focus determines how far you’ll go. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and He will lead you straight to your place of destiny!”
I don’t know what lap you’re on or what side of the track you may be on, but if it’s rainy right now and you’re struggling to stay on course in some areas, consider this too: The power of Jesus Christ lives within you and equips you to endure hard times and unexpected setbacks. You can do this.
Last month, Kedar gathered our family around the TV to watch the final few laps of the Daytona 500. Even though no one in our household enjoys NASCAR as much as he does, each year, we agree to watch the end of the annual race. Though I am totally uninterested in NASCAR, I’ll admit, it’s a lot of fun to see his level of excitement.
Well, as we sat watching, a racer named Ryan Newman got into a horrible, fiery wreck on the final lap. It was so bad, fans feared the worst. But thankfully, he survived and was released from the hospital with the ability to get around on his own. After the smoke cleared, literally and figuratively, many speculated that Ryan Newman wouldn’t race anymore. But that assumption was wrong. Even though he sustained a head injury in what could have been a fatal crash, he said he will indeed race again.
Friend, don’t let anything make you quit the race—no matter how ugly things get. Be prepared for some laps to be unpleasant and rainy. Anticipate some setbacks and disappointments. Be aware that you won’t always be able to go as fast as you’d like to. Occasionally, your life may even feel like a wreck. Yet, make up your mind that no matter what happens, you will finish your race. You will keep pushing and won’t stop for anything. If you keep on going, God will bless you and reward you!
To encourage you to stay in the race and seize your divine destiny, I’m stirring Philippians 3:14 GWT into your cup of inspiration, which says, “I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, keep your eyes on the goal. Stay focused on Jesus. And whatever you do, never, ever give up.
Now, let’s pray.
God, in times when the road gets rough and things get hard, please help me to lift my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from You. Thank You for Your power that sustains and equips me to accomplish everything You have called me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This devotion was used by permission from Dianna Hobbs’ “Your Daily Cup of Inspiration”. For more great encouragement like this, visit her official blog here.
