Maybe

My most recent lesson learned in an effort to get back in shape…

I was into my 4th mile when I realized there was this one last hill I had forgotten about. I hadn’t intended on going 5 miles that day, but had gotten myself further from the house than I anticipated. And it was hot. Most of my route had been in direct sunlight and it was in the middle of the day. Yes, I’m a genius.

Halfway up this hill, I almost had to stop. I was so tired. I was so hot. I thought to myself, “if anyone is looking, they’re probably thinking, good grief it’s just a little hill, why is she going so slow? Why is she so red? Why is she breathing so heavy? Why is she crying?” (Kidding).

What they wouldn’t have known is that I had already jogged/walked 4+ miles by this point. I had already climbed numerous, ginormous mountains (). I had already gone further than I intended, and I probably wasn’t far enough into my “get back in shape” plan to tackle this kind of route. They didn’t know the whole story of what led to my current struggle.

That’s when I felt the Lord reminding me that the next time I see someone struggling in their journey, regardless of whether I perceive their struggle as a small incline or a ginormous mountain, I need to encourage them. I don’t always know where someone has been. What road they’ve just travelled. What mountains they’ve already climbed. Maybe their journey is just starting and this is their first real battle. Maybe they’ve been traveling a while and thought they were in for a bit of smooth sailing and then, wham, out of nowhere, another obstacle appears that they weren’t prepared for. Maybe they’ve been gone a while and are trying to find their way back. Maybe they brought this on themselves. Maybe they had no control over how they got where they are. Maybe it’s not our job to care about the hows and the whys. Maybe it’s our job to just encourage them. Right where they are. Maybe a smile and a “you’ve got this” or an “I’m praying for you”, or “ don’t give up”, or “keep going”, or just a good ole “atta boy”.

Maybe that’s how we’ve gotten through our battles to this point. Maybe someone came along side us with a smile of encouragement or a prayer for endurance. Maybe we should realize it’s not our job to judge how someone is handling a particular battle. Maybe our job is to just encourage each other in and through those battles.