Our next order of business was to circle up for prayer and last minute details before beginning our 55.1 mile ride to Collinwood Freewill Baptist Church in Collinwood, TN.
It was an amazing day; blue sky, temperature in the 70s, and not much traffic on the parkway. BUT there were hills and that made the ride challenging. As I struggled to not give up, I called on the name Jesus, as I often do. I wanted to know if there was any purpose in what I was doing. And He answered!
This ride is a picture of what life is like walking with me. It isn’t always but there is a reward if you run a good race. The uphills are difficult, but they make you stronger and grow your dependence on me, because when I am weak, He is strong.
I also remembered what Minister Shipp said about focusing on God. When I am on a hill and I keep looking up the hill it seems insurmountable, but if I look down and focus on the road, it looks flat and my hope grows. In life, when I am struggling with a difficult task, if I keep focusing on the problem I lose hope. But if I focus on Jesus, I am encouraged and hope grows.
And the downhills are a respite from hill climbing. I can rejoice that I made it to the top and be refreshed for the next hill. Life does this too.
Struggles will come and they will go. But if we invite Jesus to go through it with us and He will help. But we have to focus on Jesus, and not the struggle. The struggle will pass and healing and refreshing will come.
