Have you ever felt like a gerbil running on a never-ending wheel? Many times life is a blur, moving at a speed that is difficult to keep up with. We find ourselves being swallowed up. STOP! Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever seen twelve hours go as fast as it does on race day? The hours turn into minutes, the minutes into seconds and before you know it the checkered flag has fallen and it’s time to pack up and head home. This is especially true when you are chasing the setup or you are trying to repair some damage. The next thing you hear is the call for your heat or feature. Where does the time go?
We can get so caught up in chasing our dream that we forget to look around and enjoy the life we have been given. We set our sights on attaining a goal and it becomes all consuming. And then it ends.
Bryan Clauson was chasing a dream, 200 races in one year. He raced asphalt and dirt, mostly open wheels. He wanted to achieve a milestone. No matter what each race brought his way or how bad his day was going he had a smile on his face. He was truly living his dream. He was immersed in the accomplishment with his family by his side.
Then the unforeseen, an accident. Life comes into focus and the pursuit of our dreams takes a detour. Events we plan on, the things we look forward to, the commitments we made are all washed away with the finality of life. No, not the way we expected things to go but that is how life unfolds.
I look at the photos of my children and remember the times that went by all too quickly. I wonder sometimes if I spent enough time with them. I wonder if I have taught them the right way, the way of God.
We get caught up in things that seem important, things that need to get done, but in hindsight they were not the most important thing we could have done. We are guilty of placing importance on things that are not truly important. We lose our priorities. I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer;
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
Knowing the things we cannot change takes wisdom. It also takes experience. We need to be at peace with the fact that everything will not play out the way we planned. Even with that understanding we have an agenda and when it doesn’t go the way we planned we are disappointed. When things turn tragic, we grieve.
God promises us that He will provide for our needs. He has it all under control. We need only to trust Him. Proverbs explains it this way:
Proverbs 3:5-6; Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
There is too much life to live to be enslaved to the rat race. Try to avoid getting so busy with things that we forget about what God wants us to do. Try to avoid getting so busy surviving that we forget to take time to look around and see what others are going through. God promises to provide what we need to survive. God wants us to focus on what others are going through instead of focusing on ourselves.
If you have put your trust in yourself and your own understanding then you will be disappointed. Even if you accomplish everything you think you want you will still be missing something. It is God and God alone that can give you abundant life. Fulfillment in life comes only through Jesus Christ. No matter what we have, what we accomplish, what our social standing is, it will be incomplete without a saving knowledge of God through Jesus.
John 10:7-11; Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Do you see the promise contained in that verse? In Jesus we will find pasture, a place that supplies all our needs. Remember Psalm 23?
Psalm 23:1-3; The LORD is my shepherd, I have all I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
It is Jesus who brings abundant life, who leads us to green pasture, who restores our soul. The promise from God is one of abundant life; a full life that has no regrets, no dissatisfaction, a life that is complete, a life that honors Him.
Do we ever want to consider what God has for us? I encourage you this week to STOP. Take a step back and review your thoughts and actions. Ask yourself, who am I living for?
Don’t get consumed by the pressure to get things done. The line of the song says, “Life’s too long to live like this.” Focus on what is truly important. Focus on what will affect eternity. Focus on the things of God. Live in such a way as to be sensitive to the leading of God.
To do this we must step off the gerbil’s wheel and stop running so fast that life is a blur. We need to slow down and let things happen. Watch for where God is working and join Him there. Don’t worry about your schedule. Let God set the schedule and decide what fits. Respond in a way that shows the love of Jesus that is in your heart.
Psalm 118:24; This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.