Chicago Marathon: A Race of a Lifetime

Before sunrise runners began making their way from all over Chicago to line up for one of the most famous races in the world--the great Chicago Marathon. Team CCN was among the thousands of people who gathered that morning.

Representing Community Compassion Network, Sherry Brunk, Brian Horanoff, Kris Joynt, Ron Meier, Chris Nickle, and I lined up on Columbus Drive with a myriad of runners beneath a cloudless sky. It was an amazing moment. I have to admit I had a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. The air was thick with anticipation. Over 33,000 people, all of whom spent months training for this moment, waited shoulder to shoulder for the gun to go off.

When the race began we were about 10,000 people back from the start line. So, initially we didn't move at all. We had to wait for the mass of people in front of us to cross the startline. In time the crowd in front of us began a slow walk. This led to a brisk walk. When we reached the start line all at once the race began. It was like someone flipped a switch and a surge of energy moved through the crowd. You could feel the momentum of the crowd pulling you forward as thousands of people transitioned from a walk to a run. It was an incredible moment. And the sound of feet hitting pavement was louder than I expected.

Have you ever had to wait for something? Have you wanted to move forward in an area of your life, but there was no where to go. Maybe you had to wait for a baby to arrive or for a door to open in your career. Or maybe you longed for your husband or child to discover the power of God in their lives, but it seems like there was no movement at all. Times like these in life can be discouraging.

In my life, I have know these waiting times as well. I have found, however, that just when I thought there was no hope, God flipped a switch. The situation in my life moved from a standstill to a run. There was a divine surge of momentum that pulled me forward. Sometimes it was just what I was hoping for. Other times, God didn't provide in the way I had planned. God simply provided a peace that propelled me forward into a new phase of spiritual growth.

I love the passage from Isaiah the prophet that says, "I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?I will make a pathway through the wilderness.I will create rivers in the dry wasteland (Is. 43:19 NLT)." There are many passages like this that remind us to "watch" because God is preparing to do something new. God is waiting for the right timing to put his plans into place. And sometimes it begins with a slow walk.

I never had any doubt that the Chicago Marathon would start. I knew that if I waited long enough I would begin the race. I trusted that something was going to happen. God calls us to the same kind of faith. Do you trust that God has plans and purposes for you? You should because he does. It takes endurance in faith to keep looking ahead with expectation for what God is going to do. The apostle Paul used a race metaphor to talk about the need to keep our eyes on Christ with great anticipation.

"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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

After 4 hours and 27 minutes, I crossed the finishline. The race was long and it was difficult to endure at times, but I knew if I kept looking ahead I would eventually see the finishline. Don't lose hope, if you feel stuck keep looking ahead. If you need endurance to keep moving forward keep looking ahead. God will surprise you with the way he works out his plans in your life.