DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE FOG

In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted to swim the chilly ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore. She swam through foggy weather and choppy seas for fifteen hours. Her muscles began to cramp and her resolve weakened. She begged to be taken out of the water, but her mother, riding in a boat alongside, urged her not to give up. She kept trying but grew exhausted and stopped swimming. Aids lifted her out of the water and into the boat. They paddled a few more minutes, the mist broke, and she discovered that the shore was less than half a mile away. "All I could see was the fog," she explained at a news conference. "I think if I could have seen the shore I would have made it."

Take a long look at the shore that awaits you. Don't be fooled by the fog of the slump. The finish may be only strokes away. God may be, at this moment, lifting his hand to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet. Angels may be assembling, saints gathering, demons trembling. Stay at it! Stay in the water. Stay in the race. Stay in the fight. Give grace one more time. Be generous one more time. Encourage one more soul. Swim one more stroke. 


This was taken from our Bible study lesson this week (Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado.) 

We have a tendency to think there is "plenty of time" to prepare our heart but don't be fooled. Just because you can't see the finish line doesn't mean the finish line isn't near.