New Grip

The other morning I was reading Hebrews 12:1-2, where we are encouraged to run the race of faith with persevearance and keep our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith. As I continued on, I came across a verse I had been encouraged by in the past which seemed to resound with my heart once more...

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Hebrews 12:12

I was encouraged by this because the assumption is not so much if you get tired of running, but when you get tired of running. It's bound to happen. If you've read any of my previous posts over the past few weeks, I am sure you've gathered the fact that I've been in need of rest. We are all in need of rest at some point. Physical rest for sure, but emotional and spiritual rest as well. I am grateful that God's grace allows for us to rest, and that He offers Himself as that place of rest for His children.

I often find the hardest hurdle for rest in myself. I tend to think of needing rest as a sign of weakness in myself or as an admission that I don't have what it takes to do something (this coming from someone who loves naps and will sleep until 11:00 am if given the opportunity...ironic, I know). I was thinking this morning about this being the time of year when the school year is winding down. If I were still teaching in the States, my body would physically know that it's time for summer vacation. It's odd not getting that feeling here, but realizing that I have been with my kids here for what would account for a school year. A bit of weariness is to be expected.

We had a men's team here last week who built us the swing pictured above. This morning I couldn't help but just sit and rest. As I sat and reflected, I looked ahead to find one of my favorite little guys waving at me from his second floor nursery window...

A gentle reminder, as if His Word was not enough, to take a new grip with tired hands and mark out a straight path...so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.