“Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13).
If you are a distance runner and you have become weary in the midst of a race, you will never finish the race if you quit. Often when a runner is struggling like this, his coach will encourage him to lift his head up and run on the balls of his feet.
A similar encouragement comes for runners in the race called faith. Challenging circumstances, harsh opposition, and divine chastening can generate discouragement and despair. The antidote is to lift up your sagging faith, strengthen your resolve to finish the course, and avoid any unnecessary, distracting twists and turns (i.e., run in a straight line).
Not only will this benefit you in your completion of this course, it will also be a blessing to your fellow runners, especially those who are struggling with the same thing(s) you are.
Finishing the course requires you to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
