HITTING THE WALL

November 2 

He gives power to the weary, And to him who lacks vigor He increases might. Isaiah 40:29

Endurance runners talk about ‘hitting the wall.’ They are referring to the time in the race when they have run out of energy and cannot go another step. Running coaches give a number of tips to overcome that moment: fuel your body throughout the race, and listen to those around you who can be a source of encouragement and motivation. But even in those moments, it takes a runner deciding whether or not he is going to keep going or if he is going to give up and quit.  

Sometimes in the Christian life we can ‘hit a wall.’ Difficult things happen, we are struggling and failing against the temptation to sin, there seems to be no results for all of the effort and time we put into someone else. In those moments it can be tempting to give up in despair. But just like a good endurance runner we must get through the wall. We must continue to fuel ourselves with the truth of the Word of God. We must continue to surround ourselves with believers who can encourage us and remind us of the truth. And most importantly, we must continue to rely on the Lord, who is the only One who can provide the power and might we desperately need to keep going. Take hope from the final two verses of Isaiah 40, “Though youths grow weary and tired, and choice young men stumble badly, yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary.” 

Joshua Steiner