Maybe you made big plans to get up early and read your Bible, pray, exercise and plan. Maybe you hit the snooze button this morning. Maybe you’ve hit it every morning for the past month.
Maybe you’re feeling discouraged right now. Or maybe you’ve been discouraged for awhile.
Maybe your past echoes of brokenness, fatigue and failed dreams.
Have I got a story for you.
This isn’t a story of triumph. It’s a story of pain, falling short and unfulfilled dreams. But it’s also a story of furious love. And a reminder that faithfulness in the face of our failures can bring the greatest reward of all.
Last Place Never Looked So Good
Barcelona. 1992. Derek Redmon was Britain’s greatest quarter miler.
BANG!! Off to a good start, his prospects for the race looked good. Until…
Until his hamstring snapped. Yes, snapped. He stumbled and fell to the ground. With cameramen snapping pictures and the world watching, he was consumed with the pain of his broken body and broken dream.
And then? He made a decision. To finish. He knew he wouldn’t come in 1st, 2nd or 3rd. He knew he wouldn’t cross the finish line in victory. But he decided he would cross that line. So, up he struggled and he hobbled down the track, grimacing in pain.
Then, in the background, something happened in the stands. A man, older, gray-er than Derek pushed past people, waved off guards and ran down the track. His face was filled with the furious love of a father.
He pushed away officials. He pushed away security personnel. He pushed away anyone who dared interfere. He wrapped his arms around his weeping son and together they finished the race.
Few could name the winner of the 400 meter gold that year. But millions of people remember Derek’s faithfulness…and his father’s furious love.
You Do Not Struggle Alone
If you are struggling, whether it’s with getting up in the morning or life in general, never believe that your Father’s love is any less furious.
He DOES NOT stand at the finish line awaiting your triumphant victory. He runs alongside you, cheering you as you go. And when you struggle, when you fall, He wraps His all powerful, healing hands around you and and holds you as you press on. Together.
He will let nothing get in His way.
Enough of my insufficient words. Read what David said in the Psalms and then watch the video below.
Psalm 18
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Grab Your Tissues Now…
Press on, my friends. For perfection is not our reward. He is.
Hi! My name is Kat. Inspired To Action is dedicated to practically helping moms develop the habits and skills they need to effectively manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m sorry, i’m a bawling mess. Just picturing God’s arms around me when I am struggling brings me to tears. But it also inspires me to keep trying:) Thank you so much again for your inspirational words of encouragement<3
Awesome. Thank you very much for your encouragement.
Amazing story and analogy to our Fathers Love. This reminder is just what I needed tonight. Thank you for letting God use you in such a way to help so many of us.
Your encouragement hits me right where I need it. I’m off to read Psalm 18. Thank you so much for writing such wonderful words to a broken heart that is really listening and learning.
Man, you’re not kidding about grabbing the tissues… Good stuff. Thank you.
Beautiful:)
Thanks so much for this! I was totally discouraged when I woke to the sound of my toddler half an hour before I had planned to get up. I seem to face many “enemies” in my attempts to be more structured and self-disciplined… a toddler who starts getting up 1 1/2 hours earlier than normal and napping less than usual; a record number of snow days that have repeatedly thrown off daily routines; the stomach flu that had me down and out for 2 full days and the rest of my family combined for a full week. I find myself a little angry that no one and nothing is cooperating with my efforts to do what’s best for my family, a sure sign that I am trying to get this under control under my own terms. So your reminder to look to my only true source of rescue was perfectly timed today. Thank you!
So beautiful! Thank you so much for this post!
That story is great!! Last week, I started reading The Names of Jesus book and it was Immanuel, so this is a great reminder. No matter where I am or what I am doing, I am never alone because He is with me!!!
Great post…and writing….so glad you shared!
Sweetie
Wow! Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
“For perfection is not our reward. He is.” So good, so good. Thanks friend.
What a beautiful picture of our Father’s love. That was just what I needed to see this morning.
I am struggling so much right now, as we are all sick with the stomach flu and my little Haylie has it again after just week. After having a few friends pray with me and now reading this I LITERALLY feel God’s arms warpping around me tight to pick me up. The only words I have are THANK YOU for posting this. I needed this immensely today.
I never had an earthly father who would support me but I am so thankful that I have Heavenly Father that keeps His arms around me all the time, even when I fight against Him with everything sinful in me. And I’m very grateful that my children will have an earthly father who also has a Heavenly Father, that means their support will be so much more than I can ever imagine.
thank you so much for this post! I really needed this today
I followed a link from twitter over here, and I’m thanking God that I did! I needed to hear this today, thank you.
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Oh my word – girl! Too much beauty in a single moment. Beautiful.
Bawling mess. So needed because it rings so true. Thank you.
You’re words were anything but insufficient !! What a beautiful story and reminder of the love God has for us. Thank you!
I’m going to be posting this somewhere in my office:
“He DOES NOT stand at the finish line awaiting your triumphant victory. He runs alongside you, cheering you as you go. And when you struggle, when you fall, He wraps His all powerful, healing hands around you and and holds you as you press on. Together.
He will let nothing get in His way.”
Oh dear, should have grabbed a tissue
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