Running With A Second Wind

As a former competitive runner, it is easy to understand that when running a race: the first part is easy, the middle is terrible, and the end is great because you know that you are almost finished! Why is it that the middle is difficult? Probably because you started off too fast or too excited and in the middle your muscles begin to burn and you question why you actually enjoy racing at all! Life tends to be like a race as well. We start strong, the middle can be a struggle, and nearing the end we either quit before we finish or we sprint across the finish line. Being a missionary is a lot like running a race. At the beginning you are hungry to know everything about the culture, people, and the language. You want to immerse yourself in everything that has to do with sharing Christ with people and seeing people come to Christ. In the middle of the race, the culture has become home and we tend to forget about the things that are special, unique, and awesome about the people that God has called you to. Then there comes a choice at the end of your race as a missionary: sprint or quit and walk off the course.

We have been in Zambia 1,137 days today. We have crossed the middle part of the race. The middle part of the race for me was filled with illness, frustration, disappointments, and complete discouragement. I slowed down in my running of this race tremendously. I spent many hours with the Lord in prayer and study to find out what He was trying to teach me. My heart was not as in love with the Nsenga people as it once was and I had no desire to speak the language. In the middle of this portion of my race, there was a water table filled with fruit and bananas to restore my energy, love, and passion for the Nsenga people. After I stopped to partake in the fruits and hydration, I tightened my shoelaces and began to run again with an unfading smile, joy, excitement, love, and desire to spend time with the people again. The end of the race is beginning for me, I am at mile 24 of 26.2....how will I finish? Will I be strong? Or will I be selfish?

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18   

"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won't grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:3 

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24

  Perseverance takes discipline and complete surrender to the Lord and His will for our lives. The least that I can do is to live my life fully for His glory alone.

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Paul never quit, Jesus never quit, Moses never quit...did they have an excuse to quit, yes, but they chose to proclaim the glory of God and His name. I pray that on November 1, 2010, when we board our plane to the US for our Stateside assignment, I will sit down, look at my shoes and see that the tread on the bottom of them is gone because I chose to run as fast and as hard as I could for the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Nsenga people are worth the sweat, pain, and burning muscles because they deserve my best in order that they may know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.