The Finish Line He Never Reached Alone

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semi-final as one of the favorites. He had trained for years, overcome multiple surgeries, and finally stood on the sport's biggest stage. Then, halfway around the back straight, his hamstring snapped.

Redmond crumpled to the track. Medical personnel rushed toward him with a stretcher, but he waved them off. Hobbling, weeping, he began dragging himself toward the finish line. And then a large man in a t-shirt pushed past security, jumped the railing, and wrapped his arm around Derek's shoulder.

It was Jim Redmond — his father.

"You don't have to do this," Jim whispered. "Yes, I do," Derek said. "Well then," his father replied, "we're going to finish this together."

With 65,000 people on their feet, father and son crossed that finish line arm in arm.

There are moments in life when our strength gives out — when the diagnosis comes, when the marriage fractures, when grief buckles our knees. We try to crawl forward on sheer willpower, but the Almighty never asks us to finish alone. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" (Psalm 23:4).

Trust is not believing you will never fall. Trust is knowing that when you do, your Father is already climbing over the railing to reach you.