The life you’re living right now is your one shot. It may sound obvious, but it’s a vital point to emphasize. Our desire to fully express ourselves, to pursue dreams and reach our potential, can lead us in many directions. We don’t just explore; we invest resources, take risks, and follow any path that promises to bring us closer to our deepest desires. Whether it’s a relationship, a career milestone, financial success, or dreams of fame, becoming consumed by what we hope to achieve can sometimes cause us to overlook who we are and what we already have in the present.
As children, we believe we can do, have, and be anything we desire. This notion is often instilled in us from a young age by those who love and want the best for us. However, as we grow older, we come to realize that reality doesn’t always align with these childhood dreams. Not all of us can become professional athletes, brain surgeons, movie stars, firefighters, or police officers. Our life paths often move in unexpected directions far from what we once imagined.
At times, we may find ourselves grappling with feelings of hurt, resentment, and disappointment because we invested so much effort into chasing our dreams. It can be a profound realization to consider that perhaps we were pursuing the wrong dream all along.
There’s a saying that God always dreams a bigger dream for us than we do for ourselves, and this holds profound truth. Even before laying the foundations of the world, our Heavenly Father had a purposeful plan for each of our lives. Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) states: “4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Genesis 1:26 reminds us that we are made in the image of God, and Colossians 2:10 confirms that we are His finest work.
Matthew 10:30 reminds us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered by God. As Psalm 139:14 beautifully expresses, we are wonderfully and fearfully made and exceedingly important to our Heavenly Father. Our lives are entirely His. Yet, in His grace and love, He’s given us the gift of free-will. We have the freedom to make our own choices. However, we can never escape the reality that God’s purposeful plan for our lives always prevails.
Through the Apostle Paul, God encourages us in Hebrews 12:1(NLT): “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Our place of birth, our family, and the era in which we live—all these elements contribute to the unique race God has set before each of us. He has ordained this path, and our duty is to run it with perseverance, always keeping our focus on Jesus Christ, our ultimate example and goal.
Our precious Lord and Savior is the author and finisher of our faith. He’s our champion because through unwavering faith, he ran his race perfectly, totally and completely committed to the Will of God. Enduring the cross, he sacrificed his life for our sins. Now, he’s seated on the right hand of God’s throne, the highest place of honor for all eternity.
God knows what is best for our lives, yet many of us reject the master plan our Heavenly Father has designed for us. Instead of accepting His guidance, some deny themselves the victory found in running the race specifically set for their lives. Often, we resist aligning our will with His, struggling to make sense of life and erroneously believing we know better.
No matter how bored, dissatisfied, and unfulfilled we may be regarding our current station in life, there’s a lesson to be learned right where we are. Very often, those lessons are about patience, endurance, and obedience to the Will of God. Rather than acquiescing to confusion and dismay, we must do as Jesus Christ commands in Matthew 6:33 and seek God and His righteousness first. By trusting in His timing and aligning our desires with His purposes, we discover that even in challenging times, God is shaping us for His greater plans and blessings.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Running Your Race”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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