Some are natural-born sprinters and others prefer the more grueling long-distance run of a marathon. The comparison of distance for both races are obviously different in length and time and a more note worthy topic is the fact that a sprinter can see or view their lanes; they see other sprinters in close proximity, within their own lanes; they also are able to actually see the finish line and know the race will soon be over. A marathon runner, on the other hand, cannot see the 26.2 miles that is set before them. They can only think about the run ahead of them and wisely plan how they will conquer it.

Have you ever tried to rush your life; maybe consciously or unconsciously? The question seems odd, but if you sit down and reflect on some of the outcomes and end results in your life, you most likely did on many different occasions. That decision you made that caused some type of loss; that agreement with someone you should not have; maybe you even rushed into the current situation you are in at the present moment. Now, this is not to bash or condemn but to sound an alarm to STOP. Stop trying to figure things out in your own strength. Stop trying to plan your entire life to the last minute detail. It is wise to plan ahead and for the future, but not out of desperation. Doing so shows that one fears their future. You are anxious and worried about your life and try to do everything in your stead so that circumstances line up perfectly, all in your favor.

I have done this many times before and really didn’t know I was doing so. I was shamed to ponder about times when I did this because it revealed that I did not really trust God or I questioned if what He was doing was good enough for me. It also showed a form of pride in which I thought I knew what was best for me. Hmm. But God loves me more than I can comprehend to the extent where He broke me (like He does all of His children) at different times, each time lower than the last, until I reached the point of brokenness. I thought I had fully surrendered to my Father, but apparently I hadn’t. The state of brokenness is really when the Most High can do His best work in you. This is the moment when He is gracious enough to show us how much we really need Him. This is the point when you have no other option but to surrender your entire life and trust Him even when your mind relapses to want to do things in your own stead.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles; the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalms 34:17-18).

“For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering; the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).

At this place of brokenness, I cried out to God and demanded what my life was all about. Why am I going through all of “this” if I have always tried to live an honest life of virtue; what is really going on here? God told me He “will perfect that which concerns me and will not forsake His own work” (Psalms 138:8) and “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

This definitely gave me a boost and helped me trust God more. On your own personal journey, you ask God many questions and ponder why your life seems to be “stuck in slow-mo.” God has an answer for that too:

“I returned,and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,neither yet bread to the wise,nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south;but God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6-7).

So we see that no matter how hard we may try to form and shape our lives to what we think it should be, some things will not go as planned. The runner in the other lane who may be slower than you just might outrun you in the particular dash you are running. The rude and inconsiderate employer may be promoted yet again. Their time and chance came and yours does too. This is part of the journey.

The journey is long, hard, and many times confusing but if it is built and founded on Christ, we have a greater assurance of knowing that “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It is not for sprinters and for those who are easily tired and faint. It is for those marathon runners who know that roughness, jaggedness, splinters, and bruises lie ahead but they have come to the point where they accept the journey and know that the Lord will “order their steps in His word” (Psalm 119:133) and He will “lead and guide us into the paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3). They have concluded that their journey is all (with the Almighty) or nothing.

Let God break you. Come to a place of full surrender in which you have given over your entire life for Him to direct and guide. Pray and ask God about His specific plan for your journey. Know that His plan for your life is perfect and it is the very best He has designed for you. Understand that when we “poke and pick” with the journey God has for us, we will have disappointments, be angry at God, and delay our own journey.

I have come to a place where I cast all my burdens to Lord- well I literally throw them at Him. I say, “Why am I worrying about this issue that is too big for me. Lord, take these issues; I’m not dealing with them. I have other things to worry about so you can handle them for me; you got this, right Father, because I sure don’t” and then I laugh and go on about my day. I “stay in my lane” and let God deal with the complexities of my life.

At the end of my journey, I would like to be like my brother Paul. Paul ended his journey and said,

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).