Crowded Out To Level Up!

“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,“ Hebrews 12:1

Have you ever done any running? Ever entered a race? I’m not a runner per se. I go for runs and get exercise by running—but I am not a runner. My oldest son is a runner. I ran with him once. I loved it, but also felt bad for my son at the same time. He was kind and gentle as always, but I could see he had to hold back so I could keep up. Even his slowing down for me was a greater cadence than my pace was used to. Running with him really worked me out and challenged me to level up. If this wasn’t a challenge enough, he also took me on a different path that was a good 1.5 miles longer than the 2.25 path I was used to. He pushed me...in the best of ways.

Our run was probably his warm up.

Sometimes deleterious things happen to us that push us down, push us back and crowd us out. Perhaps a lot of people can relate with that, especially right now given the current events of the world.

I have a meek and not so competitive personality so I have tremendous experience with being crowded out and pushed back my entire life. But something happened in me. God saw my heart and what was happening to me and He used it. He used it to stoke a fire in me and challenge me to fight for my place in history. God knows my heart after all. He knows I could care less about glam and spotlights and my name in lights. He knows how I please easily and don’t ask for much. So He polished a crown and set it aside for me. He surrounded me with a great cloud of witnesses, too. They cheer me on and they cheer for you. So pick yourself up. Life has maybe knocked you a few blows. The world owes us nothing, but God owns everything and He sees your strength and wants you to rise up, persevere, and run the race to win!

Level up and let yesterday’s best become tomorrow’s warm up! It’s ok to compete for your space in this race called life. God will surround you with people who love you, celebrate you and are happy to see you win at life. Smile big and let’s get after it.

~Nicole