Keep Running The Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. – Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

-1 Corinthians 9:26 (NLT)    

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Since being demoted to a Per Diem position after many years of working full time and through job-sharing, I haven’t felt this much sadness of how supposedly, a government agency was to fight for me but didn’t. Never investigated. Perhaps, never even touched the many evidences I had sent by mail. Through a tough time, I never had a hard time of trusting God because He had shown me many times of how truly He was there going along this trial with me. I was sure what appeared as a mountain to overcome was nothing for Him.

There was no option for me but to love Him even more and continue to thank Him, as He made me more aware of what things have true, lasting values. The eternal kind…The ones that moths wouldn't be able to destroy. Not even the rust...

He turned this trial into an advantage for my part. The staffing issues at my work...In the beginning, seemed like the people in higher positions were doing a great job. Proud at what they had accomplished, now seemed to have fallen apart. We have 4 facilities needing nurses. Many applied. Many passed the interviews. But not one had passed the “background checks” that I had heard of. And the current, few nurses working were getting "burned out".

My request to remain working “part time” was denied from the start.  A few people in higher positions knew they had nothing against me.  But as the need for extra nurses arose, they kept calling me. The position they gave me became a secure ground where they couldn’t force me anymore to do what they want. They couldn’t force me to work on shifts I didn’t like. They couldn’t force me to work more hours that I didn’t want to. I knew…it was God’s plan…

But working lesser, I had fewer days of interacting with inmates. I had lesser encounters to write about in my blog. But some of the events didn’t need to be told. They were just meant to be kept in my heart. The hours added to my hands at home enabled me to help my friend who was in need. Aside from my own family. 

The spiritual enemy of course, never stops trying to steal the joy in my heart. Many times, he accuses me of “not being an effective soldier of Christ” anymore. Many times, he reminds me “I am a failure”. But by the grace of God, it is His Word that rings louder and always speaks of truth. It is His Word that tells me that ONE DOES NOT NEED A PRESTIGIOUS POSITION OR TITLE TO DO A SIGNIFICANT ROLE . It is His Word that reminds me to run the race not to win FIRST PLACE, but to finish it despite the hurdles along the way. Because the one who finishes will not always be the strongest. Nor the fastest. Nor the wisest. The one who finishes is the one who learns to endure no matter how tough the bumps are on the road. The one who never veers to the left nor to the right but just keeps running straight. The one who fixes his or her eyes upon Jesus…Always…

May I ask for you to pray for a close friend of mine going through a tough time, for the Lord to heal her fractured foot and for her mom’s healing also? His provisions over them and protection. Thank you dearest friends and keep running the race…looking straight, fixed on Jesus…And that’s what gives us strength many times…The bumps on the road help us learn to endure. The bumps help us see which one has true values as our souls war against our fleshly needs in this race. To know we are all running together is already a big encouragement. To realize that we are not running alone…