Shift

I know you feel like the only one stuck idling in neutral while everyone else is racing ahead, chasing their dreams and crushing their goals.

It's not just you, trust me.

Most of us are either going the wrong way down a one-way street, heading in reverse with dingy backup cameras, spinning in circles while doing donuts in an abandoned parking lot, or stalled out with no energy to move anywhere, let alone forward.

So, please don't sit over there despairing and comparing yourself to everyone else. You genuinely have no idea what their journey entails, and just like you, they are only sharing like 1/4 of what they are experiencing.

So, back to you.

I know you want to follow forward.

I know you don't want to go back.

I also know that sometimes, going forward, as exciting as it may seem, can be difficult.

Let's do a little visualization together, shall we?

Let's imagine you are in a car race.

This race is different as it's only a solo competition designed for you to reach your personal best.

Visualize the finish line with the checkered flag waving high in the air.

Can you hear the screaming fans?

Can you smell the burnt rubber and gas fumes?

Can you see the winner's podium covered with flowers and fancy decorations?

Wait, what's that we see?

The podium's highest step - where the winner goes - has your name on it.

The race is a solo competition, so I guess that's to be expected, but still, it looks pretty fancy indeed.

And would ya looky there, I see someone holding the biggest trophy I have ever seen. Whoever could it be?

You guessed it - that's God we see holding that trophy with your name engraved on it as He beams with pride and joy for you, the one He loves so very much.

Now imagine finishing your race, reaching your personal best, and crossing that finish line as the fans scream and cheer for your amazingness.

You pull over and get out of your car (which is much higher up from the ground than a regular race car; those look way too hard to get out of) as your luxurious and voluminous hair flows unaffected by the helmet you've gracefully removed from your head as you walk - dare I say sachet - towards the winner's area.

You're quite the fancy-dancy one, aren't you?

As you approach God, He puts the trophy down gently and embraces you, lifting you into His arms, spinning you around, and whispering how proud He is of you and How much He loves you.

He sets you down and puts His hands on your shoulder, looking you straight in the eyes as He says:

"My darling, you did it!"

You embrace once again as tears of joy flow freely.

Okay, come on back now.

Don't you wish you could skip that part and forego all the steps necessary to get you there?

Yeah, me too.

Alas, my champion, it doesn't work that way.

We must move out of neutral and shift into drive to move forward, once little bit at a time.

What's one thing you can do to get you closer to that finish line?

Just one thing that accelerates you ahead.

Oh, that felt good.

Now press down on the gas a little more.

Even better!

This is pumping me up (get it, pump the gas - haha)!

I'm feeling compelled to write a list of every little thing I can think of that will get me from here to that embrace.

When doubt or laziness creep in, let's remember that look of love and pride on God's face when we locked eyes with Him.

When we overthink or feel unworthy or unable, let's remember the voice of God whispering "My darling, you did it."

God believed in us all along.

He knew we could do it.

Who are we to doubt ourselves and pull out of the race if God believes we will win?

That’s just silly, isn’t it?

So, let's shift into gear, shall we?

Let's do one thing: press on the gas.

One more, press a little harder.

Even when everything wants you to stop and go back, keep going forward a little faster now.

And before we know it, that checkered flag will be waving, and that trophy will be ours as we embrace our loving God, who has been cheering us on the whole time.

Who's ready to race?

Hebrews 12: 1-3

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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Isaiah 40: 30-31

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 1but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.