I LOVE watching the F1!  The cars set off at an incredibly fast pace and it’s thrilling to see them all rush out for position.  They reach amazing speeds as they go round and round the track over and over again with all of it’s twists and turns.  This sounds a lot like life doesn’t it? We go round and round the same routines at a super quick pace…over and over again!

If any of the F1 cars have bad contact and crash, debris is strewn all over the track.  A yellow flag is flown and all the drivers have to slow down, often behind a safety car.  This is so that the stewards can clear the debris so it’s safe once more to drive on the track. It’s a great chance for them to grab a pit stop and change their tyres for new ones.  The injured cars go into the pits to have new parts fitted and they too come out much stronger. 

As I’ve said many times, our lives are so fast these days.  Time whips by as we race around the same routines, day after day and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s life in our culture today. Sadly though, we are often limping around the track with damage or pure exhaustion, trying to keep up with everyone else and look like all is fine. Sometimes we’re racing around and we don’t even know how we really feel because we haven’t had time to stop. I realise many people do this deliberately to try and forget all the difficulties or press through them but nothing can really make it go away until we allow God to touch and heal it.  It says in Jeremiah 2:25 (Msg)

“Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway?

You may have very little time to take a pit stop but God understands that.  It’s great if you can stop and take some quality time with Him, but I believe even taking the time to ask Him to clear the debris in your life and slowing down is of enormous value.  Ask Him to show you what needs working on and give Him time and permission to restore you. 

Jeremiah 31:25 NIV  “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

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Maybe you’re in a difficult or toxic relationship and every time you make contact with this person, a piece of you is damaged.  Instead of identifying this, you continue on and keep trying to pretend it’s not there, or stick tape over it to mask it whilst still in the race.  The damage only gets worse and the other car is grinding you down.  I’ve been in this position lots of times in the past and I can tell you that the only way to deal with it is to stop and get the repairs you need.  Pour it all out to God and let Him walk you through the healing.  Talk to someone you trust and share it with them.  At times, the best thing to do is to make the decision not to make contact with that car again.  Sometimes we need to be honest with them and tell them what damage they’ve caused us and admit to how we’ve caused them damage too.  Lay it all out in the open so you can both run the race together better.  We need God’s wisdom to know which is best.  

The F1 drivers would prefer not to go into the pits because they risk losing position but they have to change their tyres because they become grainy and slow them down.  Once they get back on track with their new ones, they are so much more efficient. That is, until they grain again and they need another pit stop.  I encourage you this September to slow down for some moments and let God clear the debris in your life.  I know it’s the start of the school and church calendar but we can attack life with competitiveness and ignorance, or we can check in at the pit stop regularly and run the race or our lives wisely in God’s amazing love and restoration.  

I’m not a fan of a specific football team in general but I love it when England play in the World Cup or the Euros.  Even though history tells us that they will keep us hoping and dreaming for a win but eventually not quite make it, we cheer them on, hoping that this will be the year they become the ultimate champions.  

I really like the captain, Gareth Southgate and think he’s done a great job in managing and coaching the team over the past 8 years.  It’s certainly not an easy job and you’re so open to the criticism of the whole country.  I found it very interesting to watch the reactions of the fans and commentators throughout the competition.  Early on, when the England team weren’t playing their best, many onlookers were quick to criticise the manager.  I heard phrases like “it’s time Southgate resigned”,  “he’s tactically inept” and “it’s now or never for Gareth”.  Several matches later when England were doing well, we were hearing comments like “Southgate is a genius”, “He’s one of the best!”  When England lost the final the comments were back to being negative and scathing.  

We can’t live our lives based on people’s opinions of us and we will NEVER be able to please everyone.  People’s opinions and criticisms change like the wind and turn on the tide and we should never feel we have to change in order to change their minds.  Often being a ‘people pleaser’ earlier in my life, I have been very mixed up at times, trying to make people happy and trying to get them to see the real me…to see my heart and hope they see it’s genuineness.  

There is only one perfect constant that exists and He loves us completely.  His love for us or opinion of us doesn’t change with how we perform.  We never have to earn it. The way He feels about us never diminishes if we fail or if we mess up.  It doesn’t change with the seasons or increase because we’ve impressed.  His love for us is ABSOLUTE no matter what.   If you are feeling lost or hurt because you feel misjudged, criticised or misunderstood, press into God the Father.  Turn to Him in your heart and listen for His beautiful whispers or affirmation. 

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Psalms 118:6 NLT

He is the One who knows you and can see your heart.  He champions you no matter where you’re at and always wants the best for you.   Let Him sing over you and drown out the voices of accusers and critics with His love.  

“The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” Zeph 3:17 (CEVUK)