The True Olympian — Adam’s Angle

Michael Phelps — that ain’t me.

The numerous gold medals around his neck come from the perfect marriage of natural giftedness and rigorous training. He is the one, of all the gifted and disciplined athletes who are competing, the media is drawn to. Why? Because he is America’s Superman.

He’s the embodiment of that sweet lie: “If you work harder, if you push yourself to the limit, if you grit your teeth, sweat, bleed and exert your willpower, anything is possible for you.”

The only problem is that notion isn’t true. Whether we’re talking about an Olympic race, a financial difficulty or an emotional battle, there are some things too difficult for us. You have your limits. Michael Phelps has his limits.

But the good news is that God has no limits. When we face overwhelming trials in life, we need to abandon hope in our own abilities to overcome them and invest our hope in God’s ability to give us the strength to endure.

Have You Heard the News?

The Jews that Isaiah was writing to had a gripe. They thought that their troubles were beyond God’s reach or attention: “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God’?” (Isaiah 40:27).

What was Isaiah’s response? “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom” (Isaiah 40:28). In other words, Israel should have known better than to think that God was outside or unaware of their struggles. He has more than enough strength and knowledge to get the job done. He is the everlasting — the eternal and unlimited — Creator of the universe.

We know that, but sometimes we just need the reminder.

A Second Wind

What is even better news is that God gives His strength to those who hope in Him: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29). God, our loving, unlimited Father, lends His strength to you and me. Sounds like a good deal!

But what if you’re tempted to go the Michael Phelps route and exert yourself and your (actually, still God-given) talents and abilities to make it through? Is it a good idea to say to God, “Well, thanks for your offer of help, but I think I got this one. . .” Watch out, because even the ‘best of the best’ hit the wall: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall” (Isaiah 40:30). Some races are just too hard to run on your own strength.

Beautiful Hope

So what’s the answer? Don’t depend on your own strength. Don’t depend on your big brother’s strength. Put your confidence in God and let Him strengthen you: “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They well soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

How do you hope in the LORD? You turn your eyes to His ability — not your own.

I’d pass by the chance to swim on the same team with a world-record breaker to swim on the same team with the One strong enough to break the world.

— Adam Pivec
8/17/08