Running with horses..

It is a difficult time that we live in now, unprecedented times. The pandemic continues to rage, countless lives are being lost, economies impacted, there are rumors of war and conflict and perhaps you are facing challenges one after another in your personal life too and like me you have questions… Why? When will this change or end? I am tired and weary.

The prophet Jeremiah faced this too. He was done dealing with the wickedness and idolaters for so long and he was just weary. He was facing persecution and opposition and was discouraged and didn’t see the point in pursuing a lonely uphill battle when he could not see the justice and change he was longing to see. He asks the Lord, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (Jeremiah 12:1). Basically, Jeremiah is saying, what is the point of carrying on with the standards and purposes of God when I am not sure it is making a difference? Jeremiah is focussed on himself at this point, he is full of self pity and is tempted to slip back and retreat into living an ordinary life and give up on the purposes of God altogether.

God’s response is interesting. He does not immediately tell Jeremiah that things will change. In fact God alludes that things could actually get worse. God asks Jeremiah if he complains now while running with men on foot, how will be compete with horses? If he stumbles in safe country, how will he navigate the thickets by the Jordan?
Jeremiah 12:5
If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

God understands our situation and He is with us as we go through life’s challenges. He wants us to toughen up. Now is not the time to give in or give up. There are greater challenges ahead and we must find the courage, perseverance and faith to go on and face the present challenges. We need supernatural strength and courage to face the obstacles ahead and with God’s help, conquer we will! We cannot retreat now and be satisfied with the insignificant when God is calling us to come up higher and to live significant lives for the glorious purposes of God. Joshua is one such example, he faced giants and obstacles but he chose to live out his purpose and not retreat in the face of battle.
Joshua 1:6-7
⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 

Life has it’s twists and turns, obstacles and challenges and many battles, but they are meant to shape us and make us more stronger. The rewards ahead of us are far better than the costs we need to pay now. Paul was resolute in his determination to keep pressing on and forging ahead despite being hemmed in by challenges from every side. What is ahead of us is worth the fight!
Philippians 3:13-14
¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What are some challenges you are facing that you thought were too much for you? We too might falter for a moment and lament the present day troubles and hardship but we know deep within that we need to press on. We need to contend with the footmen, so that we are well prepared to run with the horses. This is not the time to shrink back and shirk back into easy living when significance and God’s purposes are ahead of us. What will you choose? Jeremiah chose to run with the horses. He forged ahead and lived a great life of significance and came up higher. He ran a supernatural race, he ran with the horses and fulfilled the calling that God had on his life. You too will with God’s help!