Running in Circles!

Recently I’ve begun to once again do some speed workouts at a local track. It can be helpful to be on a track for, not only is it softer on the knees, but it is much more conducive to certain kinds of workouts that require regular distances, no obstacles, and a flat terrain. The downside to running on a track is that you are literally running in circles.  That can make the milage feel quite long. After all, when I’m out running on the road or in a park, I always feel like I’m out on some sort of journey—like I’m going somewhere, moving from point A to point B. On a track, however, that one mile is just about four loops around.  So, rather than thinking about getting from one point to the next, I’m just counting the loops—just running to get back to where I started every quarter of a mile, which I personally don’t enjoy as much as going from point A to point B.  

In a sense this is exactly what can happen in our lives. I might ask, have you ever felt like you keep ending up where you began—like you are just running in circles? I think we all have certain aspects of our lives that make us feel that way. And, it’s not a great feeling, is it? After all, we like to feel like we are progressing in life. We want to sense that we are making some headway, getting somewhere, becoming better, doing better, overcoming certain things, improving at some things, etc. We don’t live to stay in the status quo nor to keep ending up where we began. We would much rather be moving from point A to point B—not just running in circles. 

At a time when God’s people were feeling quite stuck (in Babylonian exile), God sent them a message to help them look ahead to the future. He wanted then to know that he had a plan to take them from point A to point B. He said to them, “For I know the plans I have for you,…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 - NIV) But he then went on to say, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you…and will bring you back from captivity.” (vs. 13-14) 

Note, God’s promise to lead his people out from the place they were in. After all, it was never his intent for them to remain stuck in exile. But he tied his promise to a call for them to seek him with all their hearts. In other words, the plans and purposes of God for their lives were tied to their devotion to him. As they would seek him, he would be the One to take them from point A to point B. 

As I read this, I have to ask the question, could it be that you and I so often find ourselves running in circles—i.e., always back in the place where we began; feeling quite stuck in our lives—because we have failed to pursue God with all of our hearts? Could it be that, if we made him the priority of our lives, we would find ourselves moving past all those things that are holding us back from making real progress in life? 

We all want to claim for our lives Jeremiah 29:11, God’s promise for “a hope and a future.” We all want to move forward in life. But let’s be reminded that his promise also includes his call to seek him with all our hearts. He’s the One who will keep us from running in circles. 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris