The Race That Changed the Finish Line

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semifinal carrying the weight of four years of preparation. He had already overcome five surgeries just to make it back to the track. When the gun fired, he burst from the blocks with everything he had.

Then, halfway around the bend, his hamstring snapped. Redmond crumpled to the track, clutching his leg, his Olympic dream shattered in an instant. But what happened next has been replayed more than any gold medal performance from those Games. Redmond stood up. Hobbling, weeping, he began dragging himself toward the finish line. Then a man pushed past security and ran onto the track. It was Jim Redmond, his father. He wrapped his arm around his son and whispered, "We're going to finish this together." And they did — crossing the line as 65,000 people rose to their feet in tears.

The writer of Hebrews tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" and reminds us that we do not run alone. The God who promises to never leave us nor forsake us is the Father who breaks through every barrier to reach us in our pain. He does not stand at the finish line with a stopwatch. He meets us in our collapse and says, "We will finish this together."

Whatever race is breaking you today, your Heavenly Father is already on the track.