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I have always been fascinated by hurdlers. As a child watching the Olympics, the track and field runners who captured my attention were always the hurdlers. One hundred meters. Ten hurdles. Less than fourteen seconds. Truly unfathomable talent. I can’t even tie my shoes in fourteen seconds.
The hurdles of life, however, are far less predictable. They don’t line up neatly on a track, nor do we always see them coming. They tend to appear at the most inopportune moments, catching us mid-stride. We don’t exactly train for them in advance, and often we must learn to pivot and adjust.
Some hurdles are inconvenient—delayed flights, home renovation projects, and a stubbed toe. Others are far more significant: health concerns, strained relationships, broken hearts. At times, these obstacles can feel insurmountable, as though the path ahead has vanished altogether.
Unpredictability
I want predictable terrain, a sure-footedness guaranteed. But that’s not real life. Just as the terrain in the desert is rarely smooth and the sands shift beneath our feet, so life brings unpredictability—and at times, slow progress.
“Obstacles on our spiritual path require us to pivot or change course to keep moving forward. We don’t want to become stuck or stagnant. Our ability and willingness to shift must be grounded in a relationship of trust, knowing that Jesus will provide what we need to confront and overcome any obstacle.”(The Desert Walk)
Spiritual Agility
For hurdlers, agility is essential. When a rail is clipped—or when they stumble—there is a quick recovery, an adjustment in stride, and a renewed focus on what lies ahead. They do not stop. They recalibrate.
In much the same way, our journey requires agility. When obstacles arise—and they will—we are invited to adapt rather than freeze, to respond rather than retreat. Spiritual agility does not mean rushing past pain or leaping over difficulty with ease. It means remaining attentive, listening, and resting in the Lord.
The more rooted we are in Jesus, the more we trust outcomes to Him and depend on Him for guidance. As we learn to rest with Him while navigating obstacles, we can practice listening while waiting, surrendering while adjusting, and releasing as resolution comes. We move forward with Jesus, continuing the journey, even when the path ahead is unclear.
“God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength.”—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
- Where in my life am I encountering an unexpected hurdle right now, and how am I being invited to pivot rather than resist it?
- What might it look like for me to practice spiritual agility in this season—listening more closely, trusting more deeply, and resting with Jesus as I continue forward?
4 Responses
Aging is full of hurdles, even though they are expected they still are a
surprise and Jesus asks us to trust that we have enough strength to
stay the course,
Thank you for this wisdom!
Unfortunately, at least for me, I tend to learn more by doing it wrong than by doing it right. Pain is a great teacher as well as time which teaches us to “sit” in the pain instead of fighting so hard to get out of it or avoid it all together. That is hard for me.
I very much enjoyed this reflection and feel it is appropriate for any of us at all times if we are actually paying attention.
Thanks for your insight. I too have taken many, many stumbles and learned after the fact. But we keep getting back up!