Today an old friend came to speak at church. His words brought conviction and peace to me today.
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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
The last time I heard this minister speak, he spoke about how there are storms that we all must go through. Storms are familiar territory. It has been abundantly clear that we have had a path laid before us. As we've gone through helping my parents in their trials of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, medication for delusions, countless doctor appointments, hours of talking on the phone, dealing with insurance, doctors, hospitals, and finances the right people were there and the right things happened at the right times over and over.
If we kept our eyes on Jesus then we were navigated through the storm.
It was still difficult. No getting around that fact.
The scripture I heard today just affirmed what has proven out in our life for the past 3 years.
There is a path for each us. If we follow the path(race) he's given us and keep our eyes on Jesus then like him we will find the joy God sets before us.
Despite the storm there was joy.
Spiritual growth, growing closer to friends and family, finding our safe haven(new home), seeing our children care for and love their grandmother and so many other things.
We found that we MUST daily consider Jesus to not grow weary. I'm not talking physically because boy have I been weary. But an inner strength developed as day by day we were able to get back up and encourage one another to keep on running the race despite our physical weariness.
There is peace for me in this. My mom went to heaven in July. In August I had a severe fungal infection in my eye that stole my eye sight in my right eye. Healing took several months and concluded with a cornea transplant in December.
Now I have clearer vision. It seems we have reached the end of one path. While I don't know what the next season will look like, I know that Jesus holds it all in his hands and I can keep running as I look forward to the next leg of the race.
