When the Father Runs

Derek Redmond had trained for this moment his entire life. On August 3, 1992, in the semifinals of the 400-meter race at the Barcelona Olympics, the British sprinter was rounding the final curve when his right hamstring snapped. He collapsed onto the track.

The crowd fell silent as Redmond pushed himself back to his feet. Limping, sobbing, he refused to quit. He pressed forward, one agonizing step at a time, determined to reach the finish line on his own.

Then, from the stands, a man broke through. Jim Redmond — Derek's father — pushed past security and sprinted to his son's side. "You don't have to do this," he said. "Yes I do," Derek replied. So his father wrapped his arm around him, and together they crossed the finish line. Derek buried his face in his father's shoulder and wept openly.

That image is a picture of what trust in God looks like at its deepest. Not a trust that keeps us from falling, but one that assures us we will never have to finish alone. The Almighty does not watch from a comfortable distance when we are broken and limping. He breaks through every barrier to come alongside us.

You may be limping right now. The race may feel impossible. But trust this: the Father is already running toward you. And He will see you home.