We come to that time in the season that requires focus and determination. We get tired, we grow weary. The road gets long. Sometimes we question if it is worth the effort. Let me encourage you to stick to it. Perseverance is an admirable personality trait to possess. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever tried so hard to attain something and it just seems out of reach? Think about the time and effort put into accomplishing a long-term goal. Think of the satisfaction of the victory. There is a blessing in that effort that is only realized if we stick to it.
I was thinking about the Mystic Missile this week. I looked back on the history of the team and the list of Hall of Fame drivers that piloted the historic V4 yet the championship had eluded car owner Bob Garbarino for years. Names like Stevens, Worley, Maquis, Flemke, Connelly, Bodine, Ross and Hossfeld. Not until Lia achieved the title in 2007 and then again in 2009, followed by Santos in 2010 did the team taste the sweet nectar of victory from the championship cup. Forty-six years of trying only to return again the next year with the same quest.
The Mystic Missile was not a slouch team, the car was impeccable, the equipment the best, the crew was willing to do the work, but the top prize eluded them. I remember the excitement of one particular victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As I stood in victory lane, holding driver Chuck Hossfeld mom’s hand as she shook. “I wish he took up golf!” There was excitement and promise for this young driver and stout team. The end fell short by 32 points of the dreams and goals as Todd Szegedy took home the prize that year. But a closer look at the standings revealed promise on the horizon, Donny Lia was the rookie of the year in 2003 and would bring the elusive title to the V4 Mystic Missile.
Stick to it, even when the results don’t achieve our hopes and dreams.
Isaiah 40:28-31; NIV;
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Our strength and endurance come from God; he is the source of what sustains us. We are tempted to take short cuts, remember what we talked about last week? Temptation replaces integrity. We go there when we are looking for a short cut. We go there when we need a quick fix, a satisfaction of our desires. We compromise our integrity for a good feeling.
The reality is that it is not lasting. It doesn’t have a lasting satisfaction. There is no fulfilment. We are left wanting for more. Don’t buy into the lie of the enemy. Stick to the course, trust that God has a plan and it is good. He will not grow weary or give up on us. No matter how many times we fall short!
Trials are from God; they shape us and mold us into the reflection of Jesus. Without the testing and trials, we would be incomplete and lacking. We need to understand the difference between trials and temptations.
Temptations have their root in our own wants and desires. Trials have their root in the plan of God that is beneficial and good for us.
Galatians 6:7-10; NLT; Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Listen to those words, we always harvest what we plant. Are we planting seeds of hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, and division? Guess what our life will reflect? Yes, our lives will be filled with dissatisfaction, frustration, anger, stress, anxiety and worry. We will harvest death and decay.
Let’s not grow tired of doing what is good. When we plant love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we reap the blessings of God. If we don’t give up! Jesus said I have come so that you can have life, abundant and overflowing. We need to understand that the seeds we plant in our heart are the things that flow out of us, our thoughts, words and actions.
We can stick to it and reap the blessings of God or we can give into our selfish desires and harvest the seeds of discontent. I encourage you to seek out God, ask Him into your life and allow Him to guide and direct your steps. Yes, there will be some housecleaning that needs to be done. We will have to adjust our thoughts and actions, but the benefit of the process is a truly rich and satisfying life. God says we are worth the effort and He will not grow weary and lose hope.
Philippians 1:6: NLT; And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
