Words for the Weak

I signed up for a few running and cycling races next summer.  While it’s a bit daunting physically I think I have spent a lot of mental energy wrapping my head around all that I’m asking my body to do.  Here’s the rundown of what I signed up for; they are all part of a series and encompass what’s known as “Leadman” in Leadville, Colorado.

June 28th-  Trail Marathon (run)

July 6th-  50-mile Mountain Bike

August 10th-  100-mile Mountain Bike

August 11th-  10k Run

August 17th-  100-mile Trail Run

So you can see that I have my work cut out for me with miles of running, riding, and endless climbing up and over the Colorado mountains.  It will be a physical test, mega-mental exercise, and a challenge logistically and nutritionally.  I want to finish all of those events and then I want to eat a lot of ice cream.

But as this challenge looms in the distance and I diligently put one foot in front of the other I have a theme that keeps providing insight into my approach.  I hope you will sense the same comfort and even excitement, even if you don’t plan on traversing the Rockies by foot and wheel this summer.

“My grace is sufficient” is the phrase that gently works its way in my approach for these events.  Credit goes to Paul, who wrote these words long ago in 2 Corinthians.  He wrote about a “thorn in his side” that he was desperate to be released from.  It’s unclear what exactly that was but it could have been an illness, a disease, financial burdens, a tough relationship, or maybe he just had a really, really, long hike to another town that he was torn up over.  He wasn’t immune to hardships and just off the top of my head I know he was whipped, beaten, imprisoned, survived a shipwreck, and bitten by a snake.  He had every reason to plead for this life to get better.

But God answered with the first part of an important two part statement; “my grace is sufficient”.  I like that.  It means that I don’t have to conquer the world, my life, or even some silly endurance sport events by my own power. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years it’s that we can’t control the outcome.  Sometimes troubles come in bits and pieces and sometimes they come in relentless waves.  We can ask God to remove them and sometimes He does.  And other time we finally come to the end of our rope and we are willingly held by the God that extends His grace. 

When it comes to endurance sports there is a tendency to “own it” and just do more, and more, and more. Test the limits of our endurance and capacity.  We plan and scrutinize and execute.  You may feel that in the business world.  Or as a parent.  Or whatever circumstance you are in.  Grace doesn’t enter the equation because we think it all depends on us.

We become a thorn in our own side.

God told Paul that His grace is sufficient.  It’s an interesting word when I’m running and riding and trying to coax a little more fitness from a 46-year old body.  I don’t have to beat myself up in order to get to where I’m going, because if God is in it He will guide my steps to get there.  I just have to be diligent in looking, following, and putting my feet in that direction.  I’d rather run and ride in worship than see it all as grind-it-out work.

The second part that Paul mentions is how incredibly weak he is.  He doesn’t boast in his own strength; circumstances have long taken that bit of pride away from him.  But God says His power is made perfect in weakness.  Wow.  That’s counter cultural if I’ve ever heard something!  Imagine saying we are weak as a positive.  We spend a lot of time crafting ways to not portray a weakness or planning only the positive!

Abundant grace and acknowledging we are weak are not exactly key resume words or things you would normally broadcast to strangers.  But the more we endure in life the more it makes total sense.  The longer we go the more it provides comfort.  Grace has been given, freely, and we don’t have to struggle in our sin.  We don’t have to own every outcome.  We don’t have to sink in our sorrows and beat ourselves over what we aren’t.  Our weaknesses are there as an invitation to allow God to work in us and for us.  Our perceived strength isn’t enough but as Paul says, when we are weak then we are strong.

I have a lot of questions about these races and how it will go.  I can’t see every step between here and there but I can say that each step to get there is fueled by grace and an acknowledgement that I’m actually pretty weak in my own ability.  That’s probably a good attitude and hope to carry in any situation in life as well.