The Race That Changed Everything

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semifinal. He had trained for years, endured multiple surgeries, and overcome injury after injury just to reach that moment. When the gun fired, he exploded off the blocks. Then, halfway around the bend, his hamstring snapped.

Redmond crumpled to the track. Medical staff rushed toward him with a stretcher, but he waved them off. He stood up. And he started hopping toward the finish line, his face twisted in agony. The crowd of 65,000 fell silent, then began to rise.

Then something unforgettable happened. 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 shoulder and whispered, "We're going to finish this together." And they did. Step by painful step, father and son crossed that finish line while the entire stadium wept and cheered.

The writer of Hebrews tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." But notice — that verse never promises we will run it alone. The God who calls us to endure is the same God who runs alongside us when our strength gives out. El Shaddai, the Almighty, does not stand at the finish line with a stopwatch. He meets us in the middle of our collapse.

You do not have to be strong enough to finish. You just have to let your Father hold you up.