God is near, and He is there for you

At the 1992 summer Olympics in Barcelona, an athlete from Britain was competing in the 400meter race. His name was Derek Redmond, and he had trained rigorously for many years for this one, shining moment. Working, planning, preparing , Redmond dreamed about winning an Olympic gold medal.

Then, the long- awaited summer afternoon came. It was a pristine day, and the athletes took their places on staggered positions on the track. They would each race on separate lanes for the entire course.

Redmond’s father, Jim, had accompanied him to Barcelona. And as the race began, Redmond had an explosive start out of the blocks. With supreme mental strength and substantial speed endurance, he quickly sprinted past some of his opponents. Redmond got into his stride running around the first turn.

He was determined to win a medal in the 400, and his Olympic dream was now within reach. Only

A NEW YOU 175 meters away, as Redmond rounded another turn into the backstretch, he saw the finish line in the distance.

Suddenly, Redmond heard a popping sound. He continued running for another two or three strides. But he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. In agony, Redmond realized that he had torn his right hamstring muscle, and the pain was excruciating.

As Redmond began to stumble, his father who was watching intently from the stands, became concerned. The father’s eyes scanned the adverse situation and immediately rose up. Redmond then collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg. Quickly, the father ran past the security guards onto the track toward his son.

Now, far behind the other athletes, but in a desperate attempt to finish the race, Redmond tried to stand on his feet to continue. Yet, as he cried out in heartbreak and anguish, he staggered and collapsed again. Then, he dragged himself up, slowly limping along the track.

“Everything I have worked for is finished,” Redmond bitterly thought to himself. Deeply disappointed, Redmond’s dreams had fallen apart, and his hopes for the future were completely dashed.

Have you ever felt a similar way? Do you sometimes feel like just quitting?

However, just then, in the depths of his despair, Redmond felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Letting out a loud breath, he turned. And there….was his loving father.

“I’m here,” his father purportedly uttered, mumbling the words aloud. Wrapping his strong arms around his injured son’s waist, the father helped his weeping son hobble, one step at a time, down the track. Leaning on his father’s shoulder for support, the father whispered, “We’ll finish together.”

Despite the suffering and with the help of his dear father, Redmond refused to surrender. Arm and arm with his father, he managed to find the strength to persevere.

In the stands, a cheering crowd of 65,000 people gave Redmond a standing ovation as he crossed the finish line and completed the race. Derek Redmond, one of the world’s most inspirational athletes, went on to do amazing things with his life.

Therefore, today, regardless of what you are facing, as Redmond’s father assisted him in his time of need, God your Father will help you. Your difficulties and the unfair situations that have happened have not escaped the attention of your Father. Your prayers haven’t gone unheeded. God is near, and He is there for you.

“If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:9-10).

Yet maybe you think you can’t go any further. It may look as though circumstances will never change. Or you could be allowing past mistakes to become an excuse to settle where you are now. But God has not abandoned, nor has He given up on you. He still has extraordinary plans for your future. So lean on and trust in Him. There is more for you to accomplish with more joys and more successes to come. Have no fear. God is not finished with you yet.

Most often in dance class, a choreographer chooses a song and then creates the dance to the flow of the music. Though, I heard somewhere that when “The Nutcracker” ballet was originally choreographed, the choreographer originated the moves first. Thereafter, he asked Tchaikovsky to set the music to the movements. Sometimes, God works like this … in unusual ways. So don’t get discouraged and give in to the negative voices that may play the worst case scenario over and over in your mind.

Rather, be positive about your future. For right now, God is working behind the curtain of heaven to perfect everything that concerns you. He will turn those obstacles around for your ultimate good. So daily, choose trust over fear, faith over defeat, and belief over doubt. Visualize challenging issues successfully resolved. Then watch as God’s gracious hand works on your behalf. You could be a few days away from your miracle. For soon, you are going to be blessed more than you have ever been blessed before. Your next days will be your best days. In the Scriptures: • God said to Jacob, “And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15).

• God said to Moses, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).

• Godinstructed an angel to say to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, you mightymanof valor!” (Judges 6:12)

What God promises, God performs. And today God is saying to you, “I’m here,” and “We’ll finish together.” So look to the future with hope, because God will never leave or forsake you. Take steps forward in faith, living your best life possible. And your Father will meet you there and, arm and arm, will lead you to victory.