LoveWorksStill

In my mind, 

I thought that this would be easy. 

Carrying the weight of a 35 pound bar with an additional 65 pounds for 800 meters. 

The workout was created to keep me busy. 

But the more I walked, the more I felt the bar pressing on my shoulders. 

My legs started feeling lazy because the weight on my back felt crazy.  

I was uncomfortable, needing to drop the bar but knowing that my destination was approaching.  

While recognizing that my strength was depleting, I questioned how Jesus utilized the power needed as a carpenter.

In my mind… 

I began to wonder,

What muscles did He build to strengthen His endurance?

What power did He use when the cross became too heavy?

How many times did He stop to get reassurance?

How many words did He use to remember His reason for the mistakes He chose to carry?

In my mind, 

I felt like I was carrying my cross.

The pressing pain that I wanted to release from as early as 25 steps forward became my thoughts.

Jesus’ core had to be strong, much stronger than mine.

His body was lashed way before the wood got heavy, scraping every line.

His body was stinging every time the cross shifted. 

Here I am huffing and puffing for nine minutes. 

Jesus endured so much without rest over days of torment. 

How blessed I am to have a Father who has been teaching me about endurance. 

He led by example and went through with His assignment. 

As I approached the last stretch, I heard someone behind me call my name.

She said, “Let’s go, Jenae.  

Remember our Savior.  

We are almost there”. 

With little to no breath, I responded with, “okay”. 

I made it back in for the final 100 burpees. 

The pain was far from over!  

I had to die and get up again….100 times more!

There were two who wouldn’t let me knock out.

The last 30 were done in rhythm together because in unity there’s power.

What really took the cake was knowing that even when I had endured my portion, 

I came back to help another one finish hers forgetting about my own cautions.

The pain didn’t feel the same because the pain was no longer mine.

It was about her getting what she needed this time. 

We become stronger for ourselves when we do our part.

We’re even stronger for others when they need us the most for their restart. 

Just like Simone Peter, we are called to help carry someone else’s suffering ‘cause short is our time.  

Jesus paid it all and carried us in His heart. 

Jesus is not asking us to be the strongest  or even the fastest. 

He is just asking us to ENDURE so that our love for him will last. 

In my mind, 

I wonder if He has been smiling at all of His children who have taken steps to remember this great work that He did for us.

It’s a GOOD FRIDAY. 

~Jenae Chiles 

April 7, 2023