Feel His Pleasure

In the 1924 Paris Olympics, Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell faced a decision that baffled the sporting world. The 100-meter dash — his best event — was scheduled on a Sunday. Liddell, a devout Christian, quietly withdrew. The British press called him a traitor. His teammates urged him to reconsider. But Liddell understood something the headlines missed: his purpose was never the gold medal.

He switched to the 400 meters, an event he had barely trained for. On race day, he ran with an unorthodox head-back style that coaches would never teach. He won the gold in world-record time — 47.6 seconds.

Years later, Liddell left athletic fame entirely to serve as a missionary in China, where he died in a Japanese internment camp at forty-three. When asked why he traded glory for hardship, Liddell offered words that still echo: "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."

Purpose is not about finding what you are good at. It is about discovering what the Almighty made you for. Talent is a vehicle, not a destination. Liddell could run — but he was made to glorify God. Those two things overlapped on a Paris track, and they overlapped again in a dusty internment camp where he spent his final days serving fellow prisoners.

What has God made you for? And are you running that race?