Imagine a runner who comes to the track on race day wearing a backpack full of stones. He’s not training, this is race day. Each stone is a need in this runner’s life. Needs for money, food, shelter, and clothing. Real needs. Practical needs. He’s here to run the race but wonders how he will actually do it with so much weight on his shoulders.
A coach stands on the sidelines and knows there is no way this man can run this race if someone doesn’t relieve him of this backpack. He understands the gravity of the runner’s needs but he also understands this runner will never run at his full potential until he finds a way to lay this backpack down.
The runner knows who the coach is, and wants to get to know him better, but does not yet consider him as a trusted friend.
The coach pauses for a moment to think about what is best for this runner. He was known for being wise and trustworthy. Pondering the situation, he thinks, “what is the very best thing I could do to help this runner run this race while also deepening our friendship?”
He decides, “I won’t force him or make any demands.” It was important to the coach that the runner makes his own choices. He also decides that whatever help he provides should also facilitate a deepening his relationship with the runner. He cares greatly for the runner as a good father loves his child.
Walking over to the runner he says, “I see the needs you carry in your backpack. Running this race is so much more enjoyable when you don’t spend so much time worrying about those needs you carry so close to your heart. If you will make racing for me your first-intention, I promise to personally provide for all the needs you carry. In exchange, you get to run this race unencumbered. You also get to know me and discover just how trustworthy I really am. What do you say?”
The runner struggles to decide whether he can trust the coach to actually provide for the needs he carries or if he should just keep carrying them…like he’s always done. I mean, sure, the weight of these needs is heavy and burdensome. Finding some relief sounds wonderful! Yet, he’s also frightened at the prospect of trusting the coach at his word. He questions, “Can he be trusted? Will he actually meet my needs or will he just leave me in a lurch like so many others have done?”
The choice for this runner is one of trust. Will he trust the coach at His word or will he simply run this race the way he’s always run it? The only way he will ever know if the coach can be trusted is a step of faith. A willingness to take all the precious things he carries in his backpack and hand them over to see if the coach will actually keep his promise. The coach is known for being genuine and trustworthy but the runner’s needs were personal and private. How would the coach even be able to meet some of these needs? It would be a huge thing to let go of them and trust this coach at his word.
God has set up a slew of promises birthed in his desire to provide for our needs. The good-coach that he is has given us those promises so we can run through this life unhindered by our needs. He wants us to run with freedom and he wants us to get to know just how trustworthy of a friend and a father he can be for us.
Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” This verse is a rich promise given to us by a gracious father. His promises of provision are the key that frees us up with the knowledge that he WILL take care of our everyday life needs. He knows them all and has a provision waiting. The only thing we have to choose is this, “Am I willing to shift the focus off of asking him to provide for my needs and learn, instead, to trust him with those needs while I learn to seek him first? Am I willing to step into what feels risky in order to experience the joy of seeing him provide for my needs?” The promise this verse contains is a doorway to a real relationship with God that will show you what it is like to live in His kingdom.
There’s no pressure to decide, just an invitation into a journey of training where he teaches you what it is really like to trust him. You are free to keep running the way you’ve always run. Just know he’s waiting with joyful excitement to meet you on the day you decide to take him up on his offer.
Wonderfully said. We have an invitation and can lay down the rocks to be able to run the race well coached.