Devotionals

Allmost There

by Anne Adams
05/13/22
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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal. 6::9 NIV
Almost There
Fog swirled around Catalina Island in the summer of 1952 as Florence Chadwick slipped into the surf and began swimming toward the California coast two dozen miles away. Already an experienced long distance swimmer, she had already set a new record by swimming the English Channel. So on that July day as she continued to stroke, she was accompanied by support boats.
Finally after 15 hours in the water, as the fog thickened and obscured her view of the distant shoreline, the now exhausted Florence surrendered to her fatigue and frustration. However, once she was out of the water in the boat, she realized she was only a mile from her goal.
"I'm not excusing myself," she said later, "but if I could see the land I might have made it."
Yet a few months later she was back in the water on a clear day to finish the course and continue to set new records.
Sometimes like Florence I might abandon a goal or give up too soon and for me it’s usually spiritual - like when I fail to continue on a God-given task. It might be because I’m no longer aware of my vision for his ultimate purpose or maybe it’s just fearful confusion. Also, though Florence Chadwick could actually see her goal, in God’s service that’s not always possible. So when I give up it’s usually because I have lost my faith.
Yet how futile! For if I can’t see where I’m going then he can and that’s enough. Then when it’s all over so often what happens is that I realize that he was always there -- despite my not retaining God’s invisible vision for me. Indeed, he was always there - for my benefit and his glory.