The Crash and Burn
“I’ve got this, it’s
a cinch. I don’t need a safety tether or a “dummy leash” as they call it in the
gym.” With confidence I climbed aboard the treadmill and with the touch of a
button I set the belt in motion.
As I walked, I tried to keep pace with my long
legged brother who was on the treadmill next to mine. We chatted about life and it felt good to get
the heart pumping. All it took was one
little trip and that treadmill spit me off and left me in a crumpled heap on
the floor. Of course the belt kept going since I had refused to use the tether
and my leg got caught under the machine.
I was so
embarrassed! I was sure everyone had seen the large woman in the baggy black
sweats get ejected, slick as a watermelon seed in a country fair, spitting
contest. As I pulled my wounded leg from
underneath the belt I looked around and was surprised that not one person
missed a beat in their routine. It was as if I were invisible. The only one who
paid any attention was my brother who was laughing so hard he nearly followed
my disastrous example. Humiliated and bruised I climbed back on the walking pad
and connected the safety leash to my sweat shirt.
Fear of failure keeps us from progress in our lives but
there is a forever hope of victory.
Philippians 1:6 says, “I
am sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you
to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” (CEB)
I make bad decisions more
often than I care to admit. I get in a hurry or feel like I know what is best,
that is when I end up a twisted mess and feel like a failure. Getting back up
on my feet and continuing the journey only makes me stronger.
Romans 8: 29- 34 says, “God
knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to
shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his
Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the
original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that
decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling
people by name. After calling them by name, he set them on a solid basis with
himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the
end, gloriously completing what he had begun. So what do you think? With God on
our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything
on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst
by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do
for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen?
Who would dare even point a finger? The one who died for us- who was raised to
life for us, is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.”
(MSG)
Yes, I just failed in front of everyone. I’m
sure I looked absolutely ridiculous, but I would bet my black sweat pants that every
one of them has spent a little time on the floor and knows the pain of walking on
the treadmill of life. Often times, even my everyday existence is painful but,
unlike the gym members or laughing boy on the treadmill next to me, God has set
me on a “solid basis with himself” and is there to help me up.
Did you know that He is your help and is
cheering you on to accomplishment? He is not surprised by our failures but
stays with us, helping us to stand up and continue walking toward happy success.
Don’t worry about what people are thinking, pick yourself up and get back on
that treadmill. God is on your side, how could you possibly lose?
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