The Race He Didn't Finish Alone

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semifinal carrying the weight of years of injury and comeback. He was running the race of his life when, halfway around the bend, his hamstring snapped. He crumpled to the track in agony.

What happened next became one of the most replayed moments in Olympic history. Redmond pulled himself up and began hopping toward the finish line, tears streaming down his face. Then a large man pushed past security and ran onto the track. It was Jim Redmond, Derek's father. He wrapped his arm around his son's waist and said, "We're going to finish this together." And they did — step by agonizing step — while 65,000 people rose to their feet.

Derek didn't earn a medal that day. He didn't even register an official time. But he crossed that line because his father refused to let him struggle alone.

That is grace. We are all Derek Redmond. We have all pulled up lame in the race of life — hobbled by sin, by shame, by wounds we didn't see coming. And the Almighty, our Heavenly Father, doesn't watch from the stands. He runs onto the track. He wraps His arm around us and whispers, "We're going to finish this together."

You don't have to finish in your own strength. Grace means the Father has already left the stands.