28 July 2021

The training has come to an end. The preparation is done. It’s now or never (not quite).

The whistle is about to blow, the cauldron is about to be lit and the games of the Olympiad’s is about to begin. So many across the world are glued to their TV sets or listening on the radio. I am one of them. Every spare moment I have I’m watching, cheering our team on but also cheering and feeling that exaltation when the underdog wins.

There must be only one winner with a gold medal but often I wish that all would get a medal, for their effort, their perseverance, what they bring to their sport. Remember in primary school where you received a participant’s sticker.

Do you know that even the last person in the final race is the 8th fastest in the world? It gives you a different perspective when you think about it like that.

Japan who is hosting these games showed us in their opening ceremony a lone runner on a treadmill. I felt it represented all of us. Especially when we feel out on our own. The only one in the crowd finding it tough. Finding it hard work, lonely, isolated. Feeling like we are the only one running the race but going nowhere.

No, we are all united in this life. United in this feeling, in this covid nightmare, in this isolation.

Let us unite more as a community and look and pray and hope in the only ONE who can come to our aid.

Oh, we must remind ourselves and each other these words.

They that hope in the Lord, shall renew their strength.

Isaiah 40:31

I really love the words of this in the message Bible.

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
    or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
    He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
    And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind.

Isaiah 40:31 MSG

I heard an Australian Olympian quote American entrepreneur, Victor Kiam, “even if I fall flat on my face I am moving forward.”

So wonderful persevering women – you are not alone! We are on that treadmill with you, moving forward with the Lord at our side and also He has our back and a guiding protective hand extended over us moving forward. 

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Do you sometimes feel like you are alone, doing it tough?

What do you need to do to persevere so that the Lord can renew your strength in Him?