I often see a woman from my neighborhood taking walks around the pond. She has one toddler that is either in a stroller or toddling along side, a baby in a harness snuggled up against her chest, a large dog on a leash and a satchel full of snacks, toys and diaper-changing paraphernalia. Clearly it takes her quite a while to get everything together for these trips (even on nice days), and it's quite a production to cross the busy street before she can even start her slow, meandering walks around the pond. Why does she go through all this work?

"Where there is no sense of revelation, people cast off restraint." (Proverbs 19:18) We need to have reasons to discipline our lives and persevere. We must have some kind of compelling vision for what we are doing to be able to sustain hard work for a long time. Jacob was able to work hard for Laban for 14 years because he had a vision for his marriage with Rachel - his service "seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:20) Moses was able to press through fear and difficulties of dealing with Pharaoh and the Israelites because he had a vision of setting Israel free from the bondage of slavery to Egypt. And, "for the joy set before Jesus, He endured the cross." (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus could persevere through incredible hardship because He had a vision for securing salvation and for being united with His Father in heaven.

Are you wearing out? Has the race dragged on too long for you in some area of your life, or does the cost seem to great? It might be a good time for you to revisit why you are doing what you are doing. My neighbor walks her children and dog because she generally enjoys it. She continues to do it, even when it's difficult, because she is raising her children and has a vision for her family.

Carve out some time with God and consider your sense of purpose and call. Are there any Scriptures that have motivated you in this area in the past? It will be very valuable for you to write down your thoughts and fresh discoveries. This will help to clarify your thinking, and it can serve a record to which you can return. You might also benefit from sharing your thoughts, questions, fears and doubts with others. Some people process best out loud, and find that they can most easily touch their own passions when talking with others. May God refresh and renew you with a sense of vision and passion that will carry you through your present challenges!

Renewing my vision with you,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org