Cycling, life and need for strong Spirituality go hand in hand. In cycling, we think “I just need one more mile” “I can’t keep this pace” “I hurt too much” “I should just give up”
Life can be the same “I just need to get one more day” “I can’t keep trying and failing” “The pain of this break-up, job loss, death of a loved one is too much” “I should just give up”
But like cycling, we get stronger with the pain. Try training for your first century ride. First you may be able to only complete 30 miles. But then next time you complete 35 miles. Or you may finish a century ride in 6 hours. Next time, however, you finish at 5:50.
Your legs feel heavy, you feel slow, you’re in pain and want to fall over and cry. Life’s challenges can feel the same. And we find ourselves asking God “why are you doing this to me?”
Truth is, God does not sit up there in heaven saying “hey Sarah, you’re going to get a flat tire today, and your boyfriend of 6 months is going to break-up with you” OR “Hey Robert, your mom is going to get Cancer today” God does not sit up in Heaven from his thrown and decide how to make our lives Hell. God gave us the ability of freewill. He does not cause it, but he can get us through it.
In a race, anyone can start off strong. Our training has us riding at 20mph, but at mile 10 that becomes 19mph. If we happen to finish all 100 miles, we are creeping towards the end at 5mph. Even though we are hurting, exhausted, and just want to fall over and quit, we dig down deep and we push ourselves mile after mile. This needs to be our relationship with God.
God can get you through it, you just have to reach out and seek his help and he will get you through it. Don’t believe me? Look below.
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you”
Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted…”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation… present your requests to God…”
Isaiah 40: 29-31 “He gives strength to the weary… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”
God made us to have relationships with each other and to him. Though it may not always feel like he is listening, he hears you. He cries with you, he hurts with you, and he heals with you. As we get tired on our bikes by mile 60, we dig down deep and ask God to give us “one more mile” we have to reach down, pray and ask God to get us through “one more day” I promise he is listening, and I promise he will. May his will always be done and may all the glory be given to him. That last mile isn’t forever, just like the hard times are not forever. You will get through it and sometimes it takes listening, and using the resources given to you.
Do you have someone you can reach out to, is there a resource you can try? If there is, that just may be God helping.
At the end of the day, asking for his help will never cause more harm than it does good.
Keep riding miles and keep living the days
The Lord loves, and so do we.
Lord our heavenly father, we thank you for all that you have blessed us with, even if we don't always see it. Help us to see your will for us and trust in you that you can get us through it. You do not cause the pain in the world, but you will help us get through it. Speak to our hearts, and just as you help us go one more mile on that bike ride, I pray that you help us to get one more day in life and to see a little bit of happiness in everything we do. May your loving heart and your helping hand reach out to all who ask for it. Amen"
