No One Could Know

“Chase down your passion like it’s the last bus of the night.” ~Terri Guillemets

Whether or not you’ve ever competed in the Olympics, chances are, you’ve been passionate about something in your life. That first car, your dream house, the perfect job — something has more than likely lured your attention and captured your time and money. But with what kind of passion have you chased it down — as Terri Guillemets so beautifully said?

I know two near-Olympians who worked hard for years and years to follow after their dreams. Both are women who excelled in their field — both achieved national rankings. Both sweated, endured pain and worked tirelessly — and went hungry as they fought off food cravings. They sacrificed much for small moments of time to obtain their goals. Both had — and have — what it takes to be successful in anything they set their hand to do, because they’re people who are strong in the Lord, not just in the power of their own might.

High-level, high-caliber athletes put first things first and keep them there.

Another friend of mine has competed in 10 IronMan triathlons and qualified this year for the world championship in Kona, Hawaii. So, on Sept. 4, 2016, Rosie Stark (pictured above) will swim 2.4 miles IN THE OCEAN before competing in the 112-mile Around-O’ahu Bike Race and THEN will run a full 26.2-mile marathon. Have you ever taken a swim in an ocean? It’s vastly different than splashing around in your neighborhood pool, right? The threat of danger is constant. Sharks are not netted out of the course and tides pull and tug in every direction — not to mention there will be 2,000 other swimmers around Rosie, which she said creates a washing-machine effect in the water. Feet and arms will be fought like flies in a horse stable.

Most of us think it’s “crazy” to attempt such a thing. But Rosie and my other two friends believe with full certainty that all things are possible to those who believe. After all, it’s written in the Bible.

Whether or not we succeed in life, though, is often a matter of defining success. They’ll tell you that success is found in the small moments of every day when it seems hard and you feel like quitting, but you carry on. You simply keep going. It comes down to what you really want.

In the Book of Joshua, God instructed Moses’s successor to BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE. He told Joshua to ARISE and go DO as He said.

Since the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, I enjoy looking up Hebrew words and their definitions as I study. I find it interesting that the word for “arise” is quwm, which means to SUCCEED. If you “arise,” you’ve already begun to succeed.

The Hebrew word for “do” means “FINISH.” Don’t give up. Don’t quit. In the words of a wise advertisement: “Just do it.” (Did you know the word “Nike” is the Greek word for “Victory”?)

When you see that God tells us to “BE strong” and “BE courageous” and to go and “DO” what He said, keep in mind He isn’t just sending us off on our own, like a parent shipping us off to college. He goes with us. His power and His grace give us the ability and provide the tools we need to FINISH.

Remember the Biblical story of Samson? Hollywood has led us to believe that this strongest man who ever lived was a brute-like weight-lifter whose muscles were chiseled and defined like stone. But when we read the story, no one could figure out where Samson got his strength. That tells me that he looked like an Average Joe. His strength was not found in his own physique. His strength was a gift from God.

While not every Olympian or professional athlete finds their strength in Christ, Rosie has. My other friends have also found Him in their fields of strength and agility. They’ll tell you their utmost power comes from Him. His Word is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

If you’re feeling like you’ve fallen for the last time, don’t give up. Don’t quit. Put your hope in God by casting your cares on Him, because He said He cares for us. He promised to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully upright toward Him. He also said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

Arise. Succeed.

Do. Finish.

When you’re chasing your passion like it’s the last bus of the night, He’ll make sure you’re right on time. He’ll give you His rest — and His strength to cross that finish line.