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Don't Quit!

It was the last lap of the meet. The winners had won. Gasping , and stroking, the lone swimmer looked ready to climb out of the pool. She already lost the race a long time ago. Why bother?

I looked at the fatigued competitor. She didn’t look like she could lift her hand one more time. The concerned coach got up walked to the edge of the pool and started to yell, "You can do it Amanda!" "Go, you can do it,"he yelled. The teams on both sides cheered her on, “You can do it, go.” At the pool’s edge the coach accompanied Amanda step by step, yelling encouragement. Amanda’s tired strokes looked like she was pushing against pudding, not water. I didn’t think she could make it. Amanda couldn’t see or feel my doubt; she was tuned into the coach.

Finally, exhausted and totally spent she touched the edge of the pool. She had to rest a bit before dragging her body out of the pool. With the encouragement of the coach who walked her through, she made it.

I started to cry. In my mind’s eye I could see God walking beside His worn out saints.living through trials, griefs, and pains, worn out by being battered by the world’s opposition. I saw God, Heaven’s Coach, surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses, saying come on you can make it. Don’t give up. Keep your eye on the prize. Even when it feels like you are swimming in pudding I’m here right beside you I will not let you fail and I will not leave you or forsake you. Finish the race.
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