The Voice of Truth

"But the voice of truth tells me a different story, and the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory", Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth" - Casting Crowns

There comes a point in most endurance events when neither the mind nor the body seem very willing anymore. That point and that distance will vary for everyone, based largely upon your own personal situation - the miles trained, the races behind you, and your own willingness to accept some level of pain and discomfort. But it will come. Not a matter of if, but when. A week ago in Madison, WI, I got into the 67 degree waters of Lake Monona with 3200 of my closest friends at 6:40 in the morning to start yet another Ironman journey. The entire 2.4 mile swim can only be described as a blender. The 112 mile bike ride was filled with steep climbs and 42 sharp turns, ensuring that none of us could get too comfortable finding that one gear for more than a few minutes. Coming off the bike, we had 26. 2 marathon miles left to the finish, a relatively flat to rolling run course through beautiful Madison and the U of W campus.

Early on during the run my stomach decided that I had consumed enough energy drink and food on the bike course. You know that feeling when you want to throw up but you can't and all you can do is burp? That's where I was, early on during the run, with far too many miles left ahead of me. I ran with my buddies Tom and Marc pretty much through mile 11, but then decided the sooner I could get this race over with, the better. The last 15+ miles I ran solo, far too much time to think about how bad I was feeling and how many miles I still had left to go before I could stop....which is all you want to do sometimes during that race. But you know if you stop, you might not be able to get going again. And that is often enough to keep you from stopping.

Two voices do battle at that stage of the race...One tells you that you can't go on, that the pace is no longer sustainable, that it's OK to give in and surrender. That voice reminds you of every ache and pain you feel - it tends to be the louder of the two voices, and clearly the more consistent, never truly wanting to leave. That voice justifies, rationalizes, and compromises, and it often comes across at that point as the voice of reason. The second voice is quieter, less consistent, and at your weakest moments, it's the voice you think has left you for good. It's the voice that tells you that you can and you will do this - that the pace is sustainable, that it is never OK to give in and surrender, that stopping is NOT an option, and finishing the race is a given.

Which voice you choose to listen to determines how your day will finish. With both voices battling it out in my mind, I spent several painful miles running by myself focusing on how bad I felt and questioning everything from my preparation to my pre-race meal. But at some point, I banished the negative voice and focused on the voice of truth. The voice of truth became louder, more clear, and much more consistent. The voice of truth began to tell me that I could do this, that I had prepared well for this, that I had sacrificed far too much for this, and that I had most of the miles behind me and just a few left to go. The voice of truth reminded me that my day, my race, my effort, my example was for His glory, and that it was a good time to turn everything over to Him and stop trying to continue the effort on my own strength. The voice of truth reminded me of Phil. 4:13....that "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."

My conscious choice to listen to - but more importantly to BELIEVE - the voice of truth, made all the difference. I finished strong, holding on over those last few miles to a pace that should not have been sustainable given my stomach problems and the lack of fuel in my body. Whatever it is your are facing, never forget that you have a choice regarding which voice you'll listen to, which voice you will allow to guide your next steps. Don't listen to or give in to the voice that tells you that you're not strong enough, not smart enough, not capable enough, not qualified enough, or not worthy enough.

Choose to listen and believe His voice, the voice of Truth, the ONLY voice which will carry and see you through any challenge you face. The only voice which will never leave you. The only voice which was there the whole time.

"A Warrior of the Light does not waste his time listening to provocations; he has a destiny to fulfill" - Paul Coelho