Hebrews 12:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

For Meditation

The race is long, and the course is challenging. Yet, it is the only way to glory. The training regimen is rigorous, and we need self-discipline as a strict and determined coach to prep and get us running until we cross the finish line for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-26). However, it sometimes gets too complicated and lonely. We get tired and discouraged and want to quit. Elijah sums it up so well with his desert declaration, “I have had enough, Lord … Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4).

It is easy to get there. The prophet was riding high after Mt. Carmel. Queen Jezebel didn’t take the defeat lightly and quickly dispatched a threatening message to Elijah that sent a chill through the prophet’s spine, and he ran for his life. We are most weary and vulnerable after a gruesome battle. Elijah got scared to take on ruthless Queen Jezebel. At that low point, he lost his perspective, and fear assailed him. Life became worthless, and he wished to die. But God is good! His compassion never leaves His children in their sinking ship.

He came along with Elijah and encouraged him with renewed strength to continue the race to the summit of Horeb, the Mountain of God. There, God appeared to His son and instructed him in his new assignment before taking him into glory (5-18).

The Holy Spirit encourages us through the Hebrews writer to “Take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees” (Heb. 12: 12 NLT) and run for the crown! No self-pity, my friend, for as Charles Swindoll warns in his commentary on the Elijah episode:

“The most damaging impact of self-pity is its ultimate end. Cuddle it and nurse it as an infant, and you’ll have on your hands in a brief period a beast, a monster, a raging, coarse brute that will spread the poison of bitterness and paranoia throughout your system. You will soon discover that the sea of self-pity has brought with it prickly urchins of doubt, despair, and even the desire to die.”

It doesn’t have to be that way. The Holy Spirit has raised a strong lineup of faithful saints who have run the same course for our example (Hebrews 11:4-40). They persevered, without wavering, and passed the baton to us. They are now cheering us on from the stands, as in an Olympic Stadium (12:1). We cannot disappoint them and ourselves, but more than that. We cannot disappoint the premier runner of this race, Jesus Christ, who stands at the finish line to welcome us with our crowns.

Look to Him who has authored your faith to perfect it. Encourage yourself with His endurance of the cross and the scorning of its shame with joy (2). He will help you in the dark alleys and crooked paths so you can get a grip of yourself in His strength to the end.

You’ve come too far to give up!

Shalom