As a follower of Jesus, occasionally my blogs will reference my faith.  If your beliefs are different, please consider sticking around. The topics will vary from week to week with something for everyone to enjoy.  Thanks for reading along!

There is a beautiful bicycle ride I have indulged in on occasion.  It has great views of sweeping farmlands with a ribbon of a river flowing through, old weathered barns and the rich, varied textures of lush forests.  Peddling lends itself to taking the time to enjoy the panorama and listening to the sounds accompanying the view.  There is a satisfaction of moving nearly silently through the expanse of the landscape.

Near the end of the ride, a series of hills become visible, the only way to climb out of the valley back home.  The incline is deceptively slight at the beginning.  As my peddling continues, the resistance increases and the sounds of the birds, cows and the random barking dog begins to fade as my labored breaths become increasingly louder.  By the second hill, the struggle is real. The bike is wobbling to keep a straight line; the pedals are barely making the rotation, battling against the steepness.  But then, I pull out my secret weapon. I begin to list out loud the names of Jesus – Adonai, Almighty, King of Kings, Counselor, Lamb of God…, to dull the deafening labored breaths that now thunder in my ears.  At first, I did this to distract myself from the grinding up the hill.  Then it became a contest with each attempt – how many names could I come up with before the crest came into view.  The struggle became a welcomed challenge because I knew I could reach the top by focusing my energy and my thoughts on something greater than the immediate battle.

How often have we battled alone, allowing our ears to be filled with the deafening sound of our arduous efforts?  We have a choice to replace the noise; whether it’s belting out our favorite worship song or literally, calling on the name of Jesus.  When we make that decision to change the focus off of ourselves and onto Him, the struggle gets easier, our motivation becomes stronger and the destination becomes attainable.

What challenge are you facing today? 

Who or what are you relying on to strengthen you through the struggle?

Could your exhausting efforts be eased by calling on the name of Jesus?

It’s never too late to make new choices.