I ran hurdles in high school.
My favorite was the 100 hurdle relay. Coach trained me to be a three stepper and a four stepper. When you are a three stepper, it means you take three steps between the hurdles and always jump with the same leg going over. When you are a four stepper, it means you take four steps between the hurdles and can jump with either leg going over.
Why does that matter?
Because a relay means that someone always has to run against the wind. Some people run with the wind at their back and it helps push them forward. They easily take three steps and jump. But when you run against the wind, the three steps are harder to take. You take your three steps and are still too far away from the hurdle to leap, so you stutter your steps until you are close enough to jump with the only leg you know how to use.
Being able to take four steps and jump with either leg meant I had more flexibility to change when the moment called for it. It meant that I would jump no matter the conditions. Running against the wind, facing the harder conditions, didn’t matter. I always jumped.
Today, as I was laying on the couch, tired, sick, listening to the rain hit against the windows, I had a moment when I wondered…
…will I ever get a break?
Chronic illness is constant. You are always running against the wind. Hurdles don’t get cleared and put away. They just continue to get lined up and you get in the rhythm of jumping them. Pushing forward.
Alone, without a Teacher, I would stutter my steps. I would try to lead with the only leg I knew how to jump with and I would hit the hurdle. I would fall. I would never finish this race.
God has taught me to be flexible. He has taught me that the conditions do not matter. He has taught me that… easy or hard… with the wind or against it… I can jump. I can keep running forward. I can run and not stutter or stumble or grow weary.
I don’t need a break. I don’t need the wind at my back. I only need what He has taught me: To hope in Him. To love Him and to love others. To trust that, regardless of circumstances, He has given me all I need in order to jump any hurdle life puts on my path.
All I need, I already have. It just requires me to be flexible enough to put away what I believe to be the simplest path, and be willing to lead with either leg.
All He asks is that I trust Him enough to jump.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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Miriam says
Thanks so much for your article. I would also like to inform all those who are wondering “Will I ever get a break?” that you will get a break and as you continue to wait on Him and follow His leading, understand that He may be using your challenges to prepare you for the next level of your life.
Learn from David whose flock was constantly attacked by lions and bears for by fighting them while trusting God, he gained Total Confidence in God that enabled him to face Goliath confidently. He was able to declare before all that “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Kings 17:37)
Therefore, bear with your marathon hurdles patiently believing that All things work for good.
Jenny says
“All He asks is that I trust Him enough to jump”
This made me think of this quote/poem:
“Come to the edge, He said. They said, We are afraid. Come to the edge, He said. They came. He pushed them… and they flew.”
Gitz… even in your toughest days…your most difficult trials… even on the days you just feel like you can’t get out of bed, you are still someone I see who soars in so many beautiful ways… i love that about you 🙂 I love that you face fear and don’t let it define you. I love your heart and the woman that you are.
Jamee says
I so needed this this morning! Thank you for sharing! In living with multiple chronic illnesses, I don’t know what I would do without my eternal Physician. I love this:
“God has taught me to be flexible. He has taught me that the conditions do not matter. He has taught me that… easy or hard… with the wind or against it… I can jump. I can keep running forward. I can run and not stutter or stumble or grow weary . . . All He asks is that I trust Him enough to jump.”
Jesse says
I love the feeling of running in stride…
Thanks for sharing with us this morning!
Mary @ Passionate Perseverance says
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I so needed to hear this message this morning. I can completely relate to this feeling like Job. I have a severely disabled child who has seizures everyday and I often wonder “really Lord, ho much more can she take? how much more can I take?”
But I find with each passing day that question eases in my heart as I open to Him and His will for our lives.
Blessings and Grace to you on this stay. May you jump with joy and see only Him at the finish line!
wanda says
This past week/month has been ridiculous! I’ve always been a positive person…but circumstances have overwhelmed me. To the point of giving up!
I’ve used the words “What ELSE?” more than you can fathom. I don’t know how much more I can stand, seriously!
Reading your post just echoed to me….to hang on!
Thanks.
I’m not alone. Trouble and stress are bad friends to many!
Melissa May says
Thank you… : )
Jessica Turner says
I love your insight Sara. You are so wise.
Makeda says
Gitz, you continue to inspire me and challenge the way I live out my faith. Your words here were so powerful and poignant. Thank you for sharing your always unique perspective. Love you girl and you remain in my prayers.
Britt says
Thank you for this! You are so correct and I really needed to hear this today. our daughter was stillborn in March and her due date is coming up in 2 weeks and I have been sitting around all day today kind of moping and feeling sorry for myself. Wondering this exact same thing…when do I get a break! But through it all…God has taught me to be a survivor and to rely only on Him! Thank you!!!
Becky Ramsey says
Sara, what a beautiful post.
My son runs track, and I’m always AMAZED at the hurdlers. It looks so scary to me, risking falls, time after time.
But what a great metaphor. Trusting God to jump, over and over–that’s real faith.
Thank you!
Robin ~All Things Heart and Home says
“All I need, I already have…”
This is what I’m learning and it applies to oh so much. I often want the “new and amazing” answer to my problem and I spin my wheels trying to find it.
all I need, I already have
may just be my new mantra…
love you Sweet One..
xoxo
Emily says
Sara,
Thank you so much! Your post spoke what I just spoke this morning myself ~ “will I ever get a break?” During these past six months I have been diagnosed with another chronic illness. I needed to know that I’m not alone in facing illness, and I thank you for hearing God so clearly and communicating His Words. Thank you so much Sara. Many prayers!
Love in Christ,
~Em <><
Kathi says
Thank you…Your words are God to my heart today. As someone with chronic illness and now facing surgery, my husband just lost all income…the house is falling apart like the movie Money Pit, the car is too, and the washing machine just broke. My hurdles stretch further than I can see right now. I have been saying that I feel like I am physically running against the wind just walking through the house,..then your words come into my email:
“I don’t need a break… I only need what He has taught me: To hope in Him. To love Him and to love others. To trust that, regardless of circumstances, He has given me all I need in order to jump any hurdle life puts on my path.”
Thanks so much for sharing your journey, strenth and hope with others that we may be strengthened to keep on our races. blessings to you THIS day
Laura@Life Overseas says
What a powerful story you are living and writing to tell. Thank you for sharing honestly. I love the image of the hurdlers, the faith to leap, the endurance to focus when the track looms long in front of you.
Thank you for encouraging the rest of us with the choice to Trust.
Isla says
What a great post! I wish my sister could or would read it. She is having such a bad time – but as she doesn’t believe in God, she can’t find strength in Him. I am praying for her every day and hope that God won’t give up on her. It is sad to see a person go down when you know if the person could find that little spark of God’s love inside her heart and accept it she would be saved.
Debbie G. says
This is such an awesome post! “I only need what He has taught me: To hope in Him. To love Him and to love others. To trust that, regardless of circumstances, He has given me all I need in order to jump any hurdle life puts on my path.” All I can say is “Amen!!” and thank you for sharing your life with us so openly… it’s inspiring. To be honest this week I’ve wanted to take a turn sitting on the sidelines, but not after reading this… so, I’m brushing myself off and getting back in the race. Praying for you (my little way of running the race beside you) {{Hug}} ~Debbie G.
Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience says
My chronic illness is flaring today…
And your words whisper jump and my soul leaps and I can trust He will give me what I need.
I can’t thank you enough, Sara….
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
I always admire people (YOU!) who continue to jump the hurdles they face every day. I’ve had big, traumatic things to face; but I find it so much harder to deal with the daily struggles. May God continue to strengthen and empower you.
Mandy says
I absolutely love you, Sara.