Sometimes You Need To Take Another Lap! … Hello Hump Day readers. Al and I are “back-in-the-saddle” at the campground for two full weeks! It can be hectic and it can be quiet, one never knows. But one thing we can share with you is the cyclers of all ages that enjoy cycling through our 5 loops, and over at the recreation area, etc. Electric bikes for us oldies, mountain bikes, street bikes and then there is the plethora of bikes for kids. One family of 7 that comes often will bike up to the booth and shout out “one more lap to go” and that usually is like the 9th lap or more—wow!

This family is fun and for whatever reason, it reminds me of the story of Jericho where God says to Joshua (6:3-4 CSB) “March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the rams’ horns.”

7 times – that’s a lot of laps but they did it, because the previous 6 days Joshua told them God said to circle the entire city each day, so they were ready, they were a young nation building endurance and growing in their faith. They knew God was with them and they trusted Joshua who prepared them for what they needed to continue to build a new nation.

How about your journey? I think of my own journey and to be honest, it probably wasn’t always what I wanted but I did it because of my faith, and yes, it gave me many times to do more and more laps around—problems, people, weather, finances, etc. Some laps were physical, others were a deep dive into my soul and spirit.

If I would have stopped and demanded that I’m done with laps so I can do what I want to do—well—I have no idea where I would have landed. But God had that all figured out: he gave me parents who had faith in him and took a chance on adopting twin baby girls. Talk about taking another lap—you want a child and you wind up with two; you will definitely be doing a lot of laps! The stories my folks shared about raising twins were funny and they shared that as we grew up. They kept those laps going for us and that’s how I know Jesus, I have faith in Jesus because the “laps” my parents taught me are now ingrained in my life.

We all have those times of spiritual blindness which stops us from moving forward and our laps are still and our faith is wavering. In everything God has given me to do, I’ve had to take laps just like the Israelites—some physical and others were spiritual. I’ve had to take laps of faith—standing in faith, enduring in faith, waiting until answers came, breakthroughs came, resources came. With each lap I’ve grown in my faith and endurance.

This reminds me again of the Jericho story. God could have taken down that wall on day one, two, three, four five and six—but he didn’t. It wasn’t until the seventh day, when they’d completed seven laps, that the wall finally fell. I can’t imagine how exhausted they were. No doubt some got discouraged and wondered “why is God making us do this? I give up!” But they didn’t give up, they took those laps and it changed their lives!

We have all experienced that time of waiting in our faith, hoping God hears us and helps us. Don’t get upset with the wait, instead, get out there and take another lap! Why? Because God is preparing you for something wonderful. You may have to wait for it but in the waiting don’t get discouraged, don’t quit, keep walking by faith and take those laps! AMEN.