Cathy and I were serving, distributing food and supplies throughout Israel. We caught glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea while we rode through Netanya in the delivery truck. We were focused on serving but enjoyed the beauty of the vast blue water shimmering with reflections of sunlight. After our deliveries in the city were completed, the driver pulled into a parking lot overlooking the Sea. He said he thought we might enjoy the sight for a few moments. He was right. We sat in silence and gazed into the sprawling deep blue water.
After a couple minutes, he confessed he intended for us to do more than just look. We’d worked hard, and he wanted to give us the opportunity to enjoy a place we will rarely see in our lifetimes. He said, “I’ll make you a deal. You continue to work hard the rest of the day as you’ve been doing, and I’ll give you twenty minutes to enjoy the Sea.”
Deal!
We weren’t dressed to play in water, but we didn’t hesitate. The only problem we foresaw was the height of where we were compared to the water level. We’d have to walk a short distance to a set of stairs, which led to another set of stairs and another until we reached the beach and could run straight toward the water. It was a hot day, so we knew we’d work up a sweat while running to the refreshing water, but we didn’t care. We started running nearly as soon as our feet hit the pavement.
It took us at several minutes to reach the edge of the beach, and we were already out of breath. We’d spent precious time out of our 20 minutes to get to the beach, and we knew the upward return climb would take us even longer. We kicked off our shoes and ran to maximize every second we had. We rolled up our pants and waded through the water, took photos of each other and began to search for souvenir shells and pebbles. Before we knew it, it was time to trudge back to the truck.
Looking up to where we needed to go looked much more daunting than running down. This time, we knew we’d get hot again – without the appealing, refreshing water awaiting us at the end of the climb. That was okay with us. It had been worth it.
We took the return climb more slowly, but we were as out of breath as before. Our hearts were racing. We realized our blessed break had a dual benefit: we were given the opportunity to experience the Mediterranean Sea, plus we got in some aerobic exercise for the day.
When it’s God-directed, effort is always worthwhile. You might breathe hard through the process. You might feel the sting of working muscles. You might feel weak. You might struggle to maintain normal conversation and daily life. However, what you experience will exceed the energy you expend.
Fully engage in God’s plan. When he invites you to experience his presence and peace, you will often need to respond in obedience, actively seeking and pursuing his will. He will only bring the refreshing water a certain distance toward you. You need to take a few steps on your own. His requirement of obedience isn’t because he’s not loving enough to give you everything easily. It’s because he loves you so much he’s not going to giving you everything easily.
Your faith must be aerobic. It requires life-sustaining oxygen that only God can provide. You must use the air he’s giving you to breathe. You must grasp the opportunities he’s placing before you. You must open your eyes to see what is in the distance and be willing to run with all your might to jump into his arms and splash in his waters of joy. You won’t be able to stay there forever, but he’s given you a memory to sustain your experiences and familiarity with him. Let him guide and nourish you.
I do not run without a goal. (1 Corinthians 9:26)