Just Do It

Just Do It

Check out this verse: “They will not get tired or stumble. They will not stop for rest or sleep. Not a belt will be loose, not a sandal strap broken” (Isaiah 5:27). Now that’s the way to run a race!

Actually, this is a prophecy about God’s punishment on those who “have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies . . . [and] have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 5:24). God promised to empower these invaders to execute his judgment. But the point is that God would enable these soldiers to run successfully, without rest and with no equipment failures, to do his work. On their own, the invaders would never be able to complete that course.

God wants to empower us to do his will. That’s why Paul told the believers in Philippi, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). Later he declared, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

We should be relentless, determined to do what we know God wants us to do.

The Runner

“Come on—get going—pick it up,” the coach yelled as his runners circled the track. Travis was bone tired, his lungs bursting, and the rain was stinging his face, but he pushed through. Finally there was a break to grab some water, catch his breath, and stretch a bit. But Travis knew the rest would be short; soon the whistle would blow and they’d circle the track four more times . . . another mile.

What’s wrong with that man? thought Travis. Coach is an animal—he needs to get out here and do this; he probably wouldn’t make a lap. The thought brought a smile to his face. He’s killing us out here—it’s getting dark; the wind is picking up; the rain is getting stronger; the track is slippery; I’m at my limit. . . .

Then, almost as if he were reading Travis’s mind, Coach said, “Look, guys. I know you’re tired and these are miserable conditions. But the only way for us to be successful in this sport is to put in the miles, to work hard, no matter what. We don’t know what the weather will be like at the meets. But if we can run in this, we’ll be ready for anything! Remember our goal—to win state! Now let’s get going!” And off they ran again.

The Race

Travis had a coach to train, encourage, motivate, and push him through the hard times. And his coach would accept no excuses. Rain or shine, they ran.

While we’re living for Christ, at times the course can seem impossible, the conditions terrible, and the obstacles insurmountable. We can be tempted to give up. Excuses can flow quickly through our minds. We can think, Are you kidding? I can’t go on. I don’t have the strength or the endurance!

We’d be right, of course. But God doesn’t intend for us to live the Christian life on our own. He empowers us “to do what pleases him.” God is not only a “coach” who prods us along through his Word; he’s also an inner resource, giving us the desire and the power to follow him.

The Result

If you don’t know what God wants, ask him to tell you, to show you in his Word. If you know what he wants you to do, just do it . . . depending on him and in his power. Remember, “despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

My Story

As a runner, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve told myself to “just do it,” I would be rich! Training for a marathon is a long and grueling process that requires at least eighteen weeks of running five days a week, building up your mileage to about fifty miles per week. That is a lot of pounding the pavement, oftentimes running the same route over and over again, step after step after step—pretty boring at times, that’s for sure! On many mornings (usually the cold, dark, rainy ones), I would much rather stay in bed. And I have those times when I start my run only to realize my body is not cooperating and is just plain tired. Oh, how I would love to just cut the run short or stop entirely! But I can’t. That voice in my head keeps saying, Just do it! No excuses. Be tough and get out there and run.

I’ve learned with both running and life that we can make excuses to quit or to not do something very easy. No one will really care. No one may even know. But the courage and strength it takes to “just do it” even when no one else does, or cares, are what build our bodies to be able to complete that 10K or marathon, and they build our character to help us become the people God wants us to be. It’s not easy, but God never promised that life would be easy. And he does promise that our work for him will not be in vain. He will not leave us or forsake us and will be with us every step of the way—step after step after step after step.

Ellen

Think It Through

1. When have you felt totally unmotivated while preparing to run? What happened? What made you decide to put on those shoes and get after it?

2. When have you felt totally unmotivated in your life of faith? Do you know what caused your lack of motivation?

3. What obstacles and issues have you found most difficult to deal with in the Christian life? Where did you find the motivation and strength to tackle them?

4. What can you do to rely more completely on God’s strength working in and through you?

On Running

How can I mentally prepare for my next running workout?

When getting ready for a workout, try to concentrate completely on that event, blocking out irrelevant thoughts and focusing on what is controllable. Mentally rehearse your workout—course, leg stride, rhythm, etc. Have a detailed plan for your run, considering how your body responds to different stimuli (for example, what causes anxiety or another response). Be ready for those anticipated situations, or strategize ways to avoid them.