Run Your Race with Grace
The cheetah is known as the fastest land animal, but its story isn’t only about speed. What makes a cheetah remarkable is how it runs with focus and purpose. When a cheetah chases, it doesn’t waste energy darting after everything—it locks onto one target and gives it everything it has.
There’s wisdom in that for us. In a world that constantly pulls us in a thousand directions, it’s easy to feel scattered, chasing after too much at once. Meal prepping. Time with family or friends. Budgeting. Exercising. Getting organized. Volunteering. Vacationing. Gardening. Reading. Homemade meals. Getting caught up on a favorite tv show. Attending events. Stretching. What should be a fun dinner for a girlfriend’s birthday leads to thoughts of what to wear which leads to remembering your spouse needs new socks which reminds you haven’t had a pedicure in months which leads to realizing you haven’t made that doctor appointment which makes you think of vitamins and that you probably should taking them. It seems impossible to be successful at all of it. Probably because it is. Scripture reminds us of the beauty of running our race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). Like the cheetah, we weren’t designed to chase everything—we were created to pursue the path God has set before us with clarity and strength.
And then there are the spots. Each one unique, never repeated, a reminder that God’s creativity is limitless. You probably know someone who always brings the most delicious homemade dishes to gatherings or someone else who always seems to say just the right thing. When we compare ourselves to that person, we can begin to feel “less than” or possibly like we are even failing in some area. But the thing is, God never asked us to look at others to see how we measure up. We can choose to see these attributes in others as God-given gifts, each uniquely designed for each individual person, as original as a Cheetah’s spots. Psalm 139 tells us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Just as no two cheetahs are alike, no two lives are designed to look the same.
The cheetah teaches us this: run the path placed in front of you with focus, embrace the uniqueness God has given you, and trust that when you move in step with Him, you will have the strength and grace you need for the journey. May we all embrace our inner cheetah today.