One day a few years ago, I decided to go biking with a coworker. I normally go biking by myself, because like running, everyone has a different pace, and if they are not flexible in going either slower or faster than their normal pace, it may not be as enjoyable. As a previous runner, I normally would ask “what’s your pace?” In which my coworker replied, ”Oh Charlene, don’t worry about that.”
I met her in the parking lot of our employer’s office after work to head over to the trail. For me, biking is something I enjoy doing at a leisure pace, not on a competitive level. I mean, I have moments in my ride where I might push the speed a little but not consistently.
So before we got in our cars to head out, she stepped out of her car to discuss how to get there. She not only had a new bike with a lot of “bells and whistles”, but she looked the part…biking shorts, biking shirt, and some very cool shades. Me? I had on some workout shorts, a t-shirt, a helmet, and an old bike that I paid $50 for from a thrift store. It was a dirt bike, worked well, and hey, a good starter bike after not riding a bike in YEARS.
Finish the Race With Grace
I had my bike ‘thrown’ in the back of my SUV; she had an expensive bike rack. I didn’t have on bike gloves but she did, so when we got out of our cars after arriving at the bike trail, I was a little intimidated but still willing and able to make this trip enjoyable.
So we’re off! She starts “gunning it’ right out of the parking lot….10MPH…and me? About 5MPH. I’m wanting to look around because this is my first time being on the trail AND I’m a leisure kind of rider. I like to take it slow for the most part and switch gears to accommodate the hills. She was riding fast and after noticing that I was not behind her, she slowed down and waited on me to get to where she was. She felt bad for leaving me but I was fine. I told her, ”Don’t worry about me, I’m going at a slower pace, but we both will arrive eventually which is the most important thing.”
And we DID! And, at that moment God spoke to my spirit and said, ”There are a lot of people in competition with others when the only competition they should be in is with THEMSELVES. If the desire is to be a better version of you, outrun the old you towards a better you.”
So, What’s The Play Call?
Here are a few points to remember as you finish the race strong:
- The fancy biking outfit was cool, but so was my not-so-fancy outfit because it didn’t affect the outcome which was to finish the ride.
- A couple of scriptures for your journey:
- I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV
- However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 NIV
- Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Galatians 6:4-5
Well, recently, I got a new pair of glasses. I don’t know what they put in their anti-reflective coating recipe, but I can see every little smudge. I get annoyed and constantly clean my glasses throughout the day. Now I see what my sister had seen all along. Nothing has changed, my lenses don’t get any grimier than before, I just notice it now. 
My six-year-old daughter loves helping out. She’s quite the big helper. And, although I could get the job done in half the time it takes for her to do it, or for she and I to do it together, I allow her to help because I’m training her to be capable of caring for herself.
My daughter’s struggle with that knot was not unlike my daily struggles. Her huffing and puffing was an undeniable reflection of her mom’s deep sighs and murmuring. The knot represented all the obstacles I thought I was strong and wise enough to face on my own. The impenetrable knot was a glaring reminder of all the messes I had made because I chose to struggle in my own strength versus consult God.
Several months ago, I remember being overcome with stress and for no apparent reason. It was like I was standing in front of a looking glass and watching myself shatter into thousands of tiny pieces. Why? For one moment in time, I began to remember all of the hardships I had endured over the course of my forty-two years and wondered why the thoughts were pouring down like rain. 
The Bible shares parables about people like Ezekiel, Naomi, and Rahab to share messages of brokenness. Regardless of the broken position we are in, God always has His loving hands on us. All that we encounter is for good reason. 
Contrary to your pain and brokenness, God still loves you. You are worthy of His love regardless of what you have been through. Luke 4:18 tells us, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed.” When we are feeling broken, our colors still shine bright and we must apply those colors to our daily lives. And, while hurt and brokenness are saddening, we are reminded by Psalms 147:3 that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” and God can and will make us new. 
The most obvious reason is that sex with someone other than one’s spouse can all too easily lead to either or both spouses leaving the marriage. Adultery should not automatically 
