Hebrews 12:1-2

One thing I keep hearing my friends say is that they are thankful for this season of slowness–so many things that busied our lives are just gone. We are truly able to focus on the important things. This weeks verse talks about “throwing off everything that hinders”. Isn’t that we have been forced to do? It’s like the Lord is letting us see the futility of running from event to event, and instead using this season of “being still” to focus on the important things of life.

Our guest blogger, Rebecca Christian, has been such an encourager to me. She reminds us to release the burdens of the present world and focus on Jesus as we run the race with perseverance that has been placed before us.

 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

In such crazy and unprecedented times, we all find ourselves encumbered with unheard of burdens! Some of us are weighed down by added responsibilities. Some are weighed down with worry, anxiety, panic. What if I can’t get to the store in order to feed my family? What if my parents get sick? What if I or my children get sick? For how long can I stay quarantined without losing my grip on reality and sanity? What will be the consequences of not paying my bills? Will I still have a job after the pandemic is over?

In order to run any race, one needs to be stream-lined! Runners don’t wear a lot of clothing or carry multiple bottles of water or towels. Those things would slow them down! With our current burdens, we cannot “run the race marked out for us”. We are too weighed down!

So for Christians, we need to unburden ourselves. We need to prayerfully set aside the worries that are weighing us down and preventing us from running with perseverance. I believe that if we “fix our eyes on Jesus” as we reach out in prayer, we can lessen the burden, freeing us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, serving and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

I’ve been practicing the daily offices (prayers) – morning, noon, evening, and compline. During these times of prayer, I make a conscience effort to relax my shoulders and visualize my burdens slipping off my shoulders, one by one. I also pray prayers of thanksgiving gratitude, which bring peace. I feel re-engerized to carry on with my service to others…running that race with Jesus leading the way!

Rebecca Christian