The Abundant Wife

This morning I woke up feeling like every cell in my body was depleted.  I’ve been struggling with a head cold since last Thursday.  On top of that I haven’t been getting enough sleep.  Naomi was up in the middle of the night, as was Oliver.  I dragged myself out of bed despite a pounding headache.  Brad started the coffee pot, and reminded me that I needed to get going because he needed to leave for a meeting in Sacramento by 9am.

I’ve got to tell you, the honeymoon is definitely over.  I am more than half-way through my 30 Days of Prayer, and the novelty has worn off.  The condom wrappers and dried-up vomit on the sidewalk next to the school no longer inspire me to pull out a sheet of paper and pen to take notes.  I’m tired of the wind making my ears sore, and tired of worrying that I’ll get hit by a car as I cross busy streets.  When the alarm beeps I wonder why on earth I decided to take on this challenge when I could be staying in my nice warm bed for a few more minutes.

Hebrews 12:1 -3 is very encouraging to me when I want to give up: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

When I grow weary, lose heart, face opposition, am hindered, and become entangled by sin, I can look at Jesus.  I can run this race with perseverance knowing that he pioneered, perfected, endured, and ultimately won the victory.  When we run together toward Jesus, lifting one another up in prayer, we can endure.