God's Relay

When God gives us a race to run, we should consider it to be more like a relay.  In a relay there are normally four other teammates who assist getting the baton across the finish line.  There are passing zones that are 20 meters long.  The baton has to be exchanged within those passing zones are your team can be disqualified.  Also, if a runner drops the baton during the exchange, the runner who dropped the baton has to pick it up not the runner who needs the baton.  This is similar to God's plan for us.

In God's divine relay, runners are staggered along the path.  If you are discouraged because it appears your competition is ahead of you starting out, remember if God put you in lane one, you have the advantage in the corner.  In addition, don't try to start too early before God fires the gun.  Teams are only given one false start in a relay race.  The second false start will disqualify them completely.  Once you reach the passing zone, it is important we don't hang on to the baton too long.  God has directed our teammates to complete the rest of the course.  God can only bless us for the path he has marked out for us individually. However, the whole team depends on us as an individual!  In fact, if we drop the baton in that passing zone, we have to be the one to pick it up and hand it to our teammate.

In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are reminded of our race marked out for each one of us:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.