I began running competitively in junior high. It wasn’t long before I realized that
there was a point in every race that I wanted to fall over and die! My cross country coach gave me some
great in advice to push myself. He
always told our team, “You have to be comfortable running uncomfortable.” To this day, every race I have done
features a moment when I want to give up, but my coach’s words prove
effective. In fact, great
performances, and especially great athletes, feature pushing harder when the
race is the most difficult.
The
same is true in our faith life. We
will all face difficulties in life, and some of these are most severe—the death
of a loved one, illness, facing an unexpected crisis and the like. We must be comfortable being
uncomfortable in the light of such trials.
Isaiah
provides two gems to motivate us, especially when life is most difficult and
our faith is most challenged.
First, he gives a word of confidence: “Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let
not your courage fail…” He then points out a very simple, yet very true fact: “Unless your faith is firm you
shall not be firm!”
These
words should strengthen us because they are not simply coming from the prophet
Isaiah—they are God’s Word to us.
May such words inspire us to overcome every challenge we face in life
and in our faith.
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