As a child in the 1960s, I recall our classroom receiving a television to watch the launch of Apollo 11, which carried three astronauts into space. These men became the first humans to set foot on the moon. Once they landed, the world witnessed Neil Armstrong take the momentous step onto the lunar surface and famously declare, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!”

A tremendous amount of energy is required to escape the earth’s gravitational pull and make the journey of half a million miles to the moon. Similarly, as believers, we struggle against the pull of sin in our lives. The author of Hebrews reminds us in the first verse of chapter 12, ”…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Some burdens of sin that we still bear include past wounds, resentment, anger, and indeed unconfessed sin. These elements burden our hearts and hinder our spiritual growth in our relationship with the Lord. A Benedictine nun once remarked, “There is nothing, no thing, no person, no experience, no thought, no joy or pain, that cannot be harvested and used for nourishment on our journey to God.”

We might believe that losing a job or experiencing a failed business deal hinders our career progress. We may also feel convinced that a challenging childhood will prevent us from forming healthy, loving relationships. 

May I confidently assert that nothing in our lives is ever wasted by the Lord. He utilizes our past and present struggles to cultivate genuine purpose in our lives when we surrender all our experiences, both positive and negative, to Him.

So, this morning—and every morning, for that matter—give every weight and sin that seeks to cling to you and drag you down over to the Lord. Verse 2 of chapter 12 begins with, “looking to Jesus.” When we do, watch them become the fuel that propels you out of the gravitational pull of sin and bad experiences into the joy of the Lord!

Blessings on your faith journey,

Gene