How many of you out there are runners? Back in my day when I was your age (what seems like forever ago), I was in great shape and could run for what seems like forever. Miles on sports teams. Half marathons. Triathlons. Beast. The past seems so far away. Untouchable almost. Almost.

I still try to run. I guess it’s more of a slow run, walk-like thing now. But still, it’s something I enjoy doing. Everything is so nice and smooth on the road. City streets and park trails are great. No issues here. Now, off-road, that’s another thing. Beautiful trails through meandering paths amongst the forests, that’s where it’s at. Centered in God’s beauty- what could be better?

If you’re familiar with trail running, you know it’s not only the best place to run, it’s also the best place to trip yourself up. Roots. Rocks. Little snakes that seem like massive tree trunks; it’s much more than as it appears. If you take your eyes off the trail for a second, when you least expect it, something is there to trip you up. Every time.

How similar is this to the life we lead everyday. Everyday we run this trail of life. There are roots, rocks and snakes that are there at a moments notice when we take our eyes off the trail laid out before us.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:2.

From this, let’s pick up on a few key points:

  1. Realize that the trail set before you is full of things that want to trip you up.
  2. Identify the rocks, roots and snakes that line your path.
  3. As you run the trail, stay focused on the goal: Jesus.

As you run this trail we call life, may you realize that when you get tripped up, you have the choice to get right back up and turn those stumbling blocks into stepping stones.