“Touch the line!” is a phrase that athletes hear constantly, a call to run a sprint the right way. In my own personal experience this phrase has often been followed by the dreaded “that one didn’t count.” Needless to say, no one likes to run more than they have to.

Why would a coach make an athlete run again just for missing a line? I mean really, sometimes it’s only a matter of inches. The answer has to do with hard work and discipline. A coach never wants to see a player cut corners. He or she wants every player to realize their full potential, even if that means focusing on seemingly minor things. The same is true of our Heavenly Coach.

God has a fantastic plan for each and every person. He has created everyone for something truly unique and it breaks His heart to see His children fall short of their potential. Sometimes God allows us to go through circumstances that strain us, trials that require more effort than we would otherwise like to give. It is in these times that God calls us out. He reminds us to “touch the line,” to do things the right way, and, ultimately, to trust Him.

God is always in control. We must know that His plan is the best plan and that He has a specific calling for our lives. Whenever we feel God making us work a little harder, and maybe even teaching us some extra discipline, we can trust that He has our best interests at heart.