Keep Your Eye On The Prize
Joy Revie
Ian and I have just completed another long distance walk with some friends. We did the Tabular Hills Way which is a 48 mile trail from Helmsley to Scarborough through the North York Moors.
We were blessed again with great weather and the scenery was beautiful. Spring is a great time to walk as there are so many flowers along the path - bluebells, cowslip, primroses and wood sorrels - not to mention fields full of lambs!
It struck me again how much I enjoy walking as it helps me to slow down and reconnect with nature. I love going along old tracks and pathways that have been used by travellers for hundreds of years, wondering what secrets they hold, and that sense of wonder of seeing views only accessible on foot.
As with previous walks, we had booked accommodation in advance. We had packed carefully as we were carrying all our own luggage, and were following a guide book. We had broken the days into 13 miles, then 15 miles, and a final day of 21 miles.
We were all feeling a bit more nervous this time as we had all been quite busy beforehand and hadn’t done much training!! But after our first day's walk we all felt pretty good, so our confidence rose!
However, day 2 was quite challenging terrain and, by the end of the 15 miles, we were definitely more tired and pretty daunted at the 21 miles facing us the next day.
The last day was tough… sore feet and aching legs! Even though our path was mainly through forest on good tracks and with very few inclines, we were struggling.
By lunchtime, we were only half way and really needed to dig deep. Conversation slowed… and I really had to focus on the road ahead and just keep putting one foot after the other! The thought of possibly having to keep walking until 6.30pm seemed endless.
Searching for encouragement, my mind was drawn to what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:
Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Paul is encouraging us to continue in our journey of faith, despite what life distractions are happening around us both present and in the past, by focusing on the future and the ultimate goal of our faith journey: which is to have eternal life with Jesus and experience the fullness of His kingdom.
This implies perseverance and diligence in pursuing the prize - like an athlete who focuses on the finish line - so we are encouraged to persevere in our faith despite challenges.
The same encouragement is found in Proverbs 4:
Set your gaze on the path before you.
With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life's distractions.
Proverbs 4:25 (TPT)
I certainly don't see myself as an athlete!! But we all made it to the end of the walk in good time, and felt the joy and satisfaction of completing what we set out to do.
So let's be encouraged (and also encourage one another) to keep going when life is tough, by taking one day at a time (or even one step at a time).
Jesus is alongside us every second of every day, enabling us by the Holy Spirit to keep going. So let's continue in our journey of faith, with our eyes fixed on the end prize, which is to be forever with Jesus and share in the joy of His Kingdom!
