My sister and I like to run for our exercise. Since we are not fast runners we approach our runs from an endurance perspective. Recently an 8k (about 5 miles) was being held at Norris Dam in honor of the dam’s 80th anniversary. We had not run the course before and didn’t know what to expect. When we got there we discovered that the starting line was at the bottom of the dam and you had to run out the road and then climb uphill until you reached the top of the dam. About 45% of the 5 miles was going to be uphill and then about the 7:30 start time there came a downpour of rain which meant that now our shoes, socks, and clothes were all wet. We began the race in the rain but about the time we reached the top of the dam it had quit. We had to cross the dam and then run about a half mile beyond to the turnaround point. Once we got to the turnaround it was downhill from there which made the last part easier to run but we were still questioning whether it was worth the trip we had made.
If you have ever participated in a road race you know that there are always runners and watchers that try to speak an encouraging word to you when you pass them which helps and they normally have a water station at some point so you can grab a quick drink if needed. But at this race when we got near the end there was a gentleman stationed about 100 yards from the finish line. When we went by, he said, “You’ve got it now, just the length of a football field, you can make it.” We were already determined to finish but his words made us run a little faster. It encouraged us right when we needed it. Several minutes later after the finish line when we were going to our car we came back by the gentleman and he was still at his post saying the same thing to the runners just now at that point. The Lord spoke to me and reminded me that this is probably how many people in the ministry feel. Ministers may feel they preach the same sermon, singers may feel they sing the same song, teachers may feel they have taught this lesson many times before but it is still important because the runners just now finishing the race need to hear the encouraging words. Although he had repeated the words over and over to each runner that came through it was fresh and new and encouragement to them to finish. So if there are days that you feel like you are carrying the same message you carried yesterday just remember it is new to those that you speak it to and that they need to hear it.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.