Do You Hear the Cheering?

You are running a race. It isn’t easy. Your legs are tired. You are huffing and puffing. You feel like giving up. But up ahead there is a banner and people are waving their arms. Listen. Do you hear the cheering? “Hurray! Keep it up! Your winning!” They are cheering for you! Are you going to stop and say it is too hard now? Of course not! You are going to do your very best to win, aren’t you?

You like it when others praise you and cheer for you. We all do. It makes the hard jobs seem easier and more worthwhile. No one wants to give up when others think they are going to win! But there are times that no one seems to notice how hard we are trying. Maybe the baby is learning to walk or little sister colored inside the lines. “Look at you! Good job!” Mom and Dad cheer. “I can do that, too!” you say, but no one pays attention. Instead they say, “You have a job to do—get busy.” But the work is hard and it takes so long with no one to cheer you on! You feel like giving up, don’t you?

Wait! Even if you feel discouraged, don’t give up yet. You are doing the right thing when you are obeying. Is there really no one to cheer you on? Be quiet and listen. “Don’t try to get attention for doing good things,” Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:1-6. “But do it for your Father, who sees in secret, and He will reward you.” Think of that! Whatever you are doing, your Heavenly Father is watching. Are you trying to please Him? Then you know He is cheering for you.

Do you know why God doesn’t give us loud cheers? Because He is working on a secret mission. Not many people even know about it, because it is only for those that have learned to listen with their hearts. Have you? Anyone can hear loud and exciting things. But God’s voice is usually so quiet that only our heart can hear it. No wonder we can’t hear Him if we are busy trying to get attention!

You see, God’s mission is to change us inside—in all our secret thoughts and wishes—so we can follow Jesus and run the race to heaven. Changing hearts is the hardest and most important work in the world, and only God can do it. Really, He is the One who deserves all the praise and cheering! Our part is just to trust and obey Him. We can’t make ourselves be winners, but if we stop trying to do things our own way and live to please Jesus instead, He has promised to keep us on the winning side. And guess who is cheering Jesus and those that follow Him? All the angels in heaven!

Do you want to share in the heavenly cheering? Then give up your life to God and trust Him. Read His Word and listen to what He wants you to do. Is it obeying your parents when you don’t feel like it? Is it speaking kindly to someone who is angry or rude? Is it asking forgiveness for something you did—or forgiving those who have done wrong to you? It doesn’t matter what others think or how they respond. If you do what Jesus says, just because you love Him, God will be pleased. Listen. Do you hear the cheering?