When the world says, “Give up”, Hope whispers, “Try it one more time”.

Ps. 27:10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”

Recently we had the annual Comrades Marathon. As you surely already know, it is a massive runners event and apart from all the athletes taking part, there are many supporters cheering the athletes on. Think of the craziest, excited supporters you have ever seen or experienced at such an event. They just put a smile on everyones dial, don’t they? Just like the Comrades, we are all on a long distance journey in our lives and as we go we get tired, discouraged, faced with hills, then some lovely downhills, refreshed, encouraged, tired again, hopeless, new bursts of energy at the water points, new hope, etc until one day we “graduate” and we get to be with our King. Along this journey we have supporters shouting encouragement from the sidelines, praying for us, helping us up when we fall, etc. But there are times where we feel completely alone, though surrounded with people, still so very alone. Feelings of not truly being recognised for who we are, not really believed in, maybe struggles we go through that nobody will really understand except us and God. Well, that’s what I felt God lay on my heart to share with you…I want to turn your focus back to your GREATEST SUPPORTER! Yes, you know where I’m going with this, but don’t stop reading yet!

On this journey, we cannot expect of our earthly family to fully support us at all times and to love us perfectly! It would be impossible and completely unfair towards them as we are all living in an imperfect world. Though it might be their hearts, the reality is it will not always be the case. If you do expect this, think again. Are you truly able to fulfil the desires of another person completely or do you presume to even know anyone that deep? Nope.

It is in those areas of our lives where God comes in. The Creator. The Author of your life. OOOH, I get excited just by typing this right now!! He KNOWS better than you do, what you need, how to fulfil your desires etc.

Zeph.3:17 tells us “…He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Don’t expect His encouragement and love to be the same as your experience with your earthly family or support system. He will go way beyond. Not only will He cheer you on, He will call the plans He has for your life, into being. Even those plans you are not yet aware of – things that are not (yet) as if they were!! Yes, yes, it’s true!!

Read Rom.4:16-22 to see an example of this, where God did just that for Abraham. Who is this God? Verse 17b “…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…”. This is our God!!! In the words of Rom.8:31 I ask you “…If God is for us, who can be against us?” Go for gold!! You have God Almighty cheering you on! He not only believes in you, He has even greater plans for you than you think and He intends to fulfil them!! Is. 14:27 says “For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?”

Heb.12:1,2a “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, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;…”

The key… “He who hides in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty!” (Ps.91)

Its easy – The egg needs to be under the chicken for the chicken to brood on it and for the egg to be hatched – (please excuse this plain and simple example but that’s how it is – plain and simple) Just like Moses would rather have stayed in the wilderness (in Exodus 33) with the Presence of God instead of entering the Promised Land without His Presence. He understood the power of having God in your midst wherever you go, inviting His Presence. Do you?

So…Invite God into your journey, run your race, don’t look back!! He is rejoicing over you with singing!!