The Race That No One Forgot

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semifinal. He had trained for years, fought through five surgeries, and finally made it to the Olympic stage. When the gun fired, he ran beautifully — until his hamstring snapped midway through the backstretch.

Redmond crumpled to the track. Medical staff rushed toward him with a stretcher, but he waved them off. He pulled himself up and began hobbling toward the finish line, tears streaming down his face. Then a man pushed past security and onto the track — Jim Redmond, his father. He wrapped his arm around his son's shoulder and said, "We're going to finish this together." The two of them crossed that finish line while 65,000 people rose to their feet.

Derek didn't win a medal that day. He didn't even record an official time. But he finished.

The writer of Hebrews tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" — and then reminds us we never run it alone. The Almighty doesn't promise we won't pull up lame. He doesn't promise the race will go the way we planned. But He promises something better: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

When your legs give out — and they will — your Father is already pushing past every barrier to reach you. You will finish. Together.