What's tripping you up

Several years ago, my eldest son took up running. Now he runs 4 or 5 days a week and has participated in a number of half marathons. He runs to maintain his fitness and has the perseverance to keep on going. He runs well and has more self-discipline than many of us. Yet today he tripped and fell. The damage report is, grazed knee, cut and grazed hands, bruised elbow and ribs.

The problem was a tree root, which had grown under the pathway and cracked the concrete. 

What is tripping you up today?  Is it sickness, tiredness, negative thinking or difficult circumstances?  Sometimes we can be tripped up by a few thoughtless words, or the unexpected meanness of a colleague. There are times in our lives when the challenges come thick and fast, and we hardly have time to think before the next one confronts us.

Perhaps it means facing the problem head on and asking for wisdom in how to handle it.  Perhaps it means checking your priorities and reinforcing boundaries.  Maybe it just means taking better care of yourself, but sometimes these accidents or incidents are simply unavoidable.

Thank God for the great sense of security we have in Him.  Nothing can come against us that He cannot resolve. ‘The peace of God that passes understanding’ settles our hearts and minds in Christ, even though on the surface circumstances can be overwhelming.

We want to finish the race, not become dropouts.  It’s quite a challenge at times, but God is trusting you to rise to the challenge, stand against the enemy and become an overcomer.  

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.  He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord   - Psalm 112:4,7 NIV

How do you respond when life throws you a curve ball?