Speed Potato

Jan 5

Written By Sheryle Cruse

“The devil whispered, ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’

I whispered back, ‘I AM THE STORM.’”

This quote has circulated in our culture and online. Many social media posts, t-shirts, and coffee mugs tout its declaration.

It’s supposed to be a rallying cry for confidence in the face of adversity and fear.

Most recently, I came across this post on social media:

A cute fluffy-headed cheetah cub looks to its mother, questioning her about predators, about those who would harm it.

Mother Cheetah responds, “My speed potato, we are the predators.”

And then, the fluffy Cutie Pie reflects… “We…ARE?”

This isn’t so much about being a predator. It has more to do with power.

Gym class always made me feel less than.

When I was a kid, we participated in the Presidential Physical Fitness tests on a regular basis.

The goal was to promote health and physical exercise.

For me, the result was… humiliation.

Gym class always made me anxious. I was an overweight and self-conscious child.

Therefore, I approached Gym class with fear, wanting to get things over with as soon as possible. That included these physical fitness tests that, yes, included running.

Running around the football field at least twice. I did not have the stamina for that. I always came in last, lagging behind the other kids.

And then there was the sprinting. The 30-yard dash. Shuttle runs. The shorter sprints, timed to see how fast a kid can run.

Anxiety really kicked in for me here. I felt the pressure.

Therefore, with anxiety fueling my central nervous system, I threw myself into the sprint. I put every bit of force into running. I tried to go as fast as I could.

Doing so, yeah, maybe I was fast. But I had no brakes. Crossing the finish line, unable to stop, I, inevitably, stumbled and fell to the ground, or to the asphalt.

Usually, there was some kind of face plant that I did as well. Going at a high rate of speed, anxious and adrenalized, with no ability to brake, past the finish line?

Yeah, face plant was certain.

And this toppling over, complete with face plant, was a regular occurrence. It didn’t happen only once. It happened every time. Every time.

Races. Sprinting. Speed. Power. Endurance.

These are all things we face in life.

“I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Not all of us run a race, be it marathon or physical competition… barring the requisite gym class tortures we had to experience in a school curriculum.

But we all run, stumble, fall, and are in some facet of running “our race.”

Scripture, therefore, is comforting here, especially as we recover from our latest life face plant…

“I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11

We are stronger in The Most High than we realize.

Scripture tells us that “His strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Let’s go back to the cheetah.

The wild cats run at a speed of 71 miles per hour. They are known as the fastest land animals, going from 0 to 60mph in just three seconds.

That’s fast, arguably, me- without- brakes- in- gym- class sprints fast.

See for yourself…

Yep, fast.

And, if we just saw that one image, that one moving picture of the accelerated big cat, it would be a black and white case of speed, pure and simple.

But there is also another cheetah reality.

What they SOUND like…

Adorable, huh? Little squeaks? A dangerous predator… squeaks?

Apparently so.

I point this out to state that something that looks like the most dangerous, most intimidating thing in our lives…

Can also “squeak.”

And concerning us, for every disempowered weakness, flaw, insecurity, and limitation, we, conversely, have that power and speed, in and through Him.

“Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto (Yahshua Ha-Mashiach) Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of (The Most High) God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

It is one thing to feel great, confident and assured when we are sprinting in power.

It is another thing altogether to squeak a tiny, sweet squeak.

This is where we encounter the power of THIS scripture flowing from our lives…

“But the foolish things of the world did The Most High choose, that the wise He may put to shame; and the weak things of the world did The Most High choose that He may put to shame the strong.”

1 Corinthians 1:27

One more thing about the cheetah, specifically, the little fluffy-headed cheetah cub.

The little one is afraid of predators, not understanding that it was powerful… and a predator… all on its own.

The little one, according to this humorous post, does not see its speed. It only sees its “potato status,” referenced, term of endearment-wise, from Mother Cheetah.

Likewise, The Most High is Our Loving Parent, Who reminds us of, yes, of our vulnerability.

But there is ALSO the reminder of Strength, in HIM!

“Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my YAH’s power I can jump over a wall.”

Psalm 18:29

A big key here? Do not fear.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your (YAH) God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.’”

Isaiah 41:10

So, that’s the challenge, to the “Speed Potato” in all of us.

May we reach the certainty of this scripture in our lives.

May we run with this as we run!

“Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Psalm 118:6

ABBA-

I come to You, in The Name of Our Savior, Yahshua.

You know how well I am running. You know if I am stumbling right now.

You know how I fail to see myself accurately.

You know how I struggle to see myself in You.

Forgive me for doubting You, for arguing with You.

Help me to recognize that You are at work in and through me now.

Help me to run the race You have called me to run, with power, success, and speed.

Speed Potato

“The devil whispered, ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’

I whispered back, ‘I AM THE STORM.’”

This quote has circulated in our culture and online. Many social media posts, t-shirts, and coffee mugs tout its declaration.

It’s supposed to be a rallying cry for confidence in the face of adversity and fear.

Most recently, I came across this post on social media:

A cute fluffy-headed cheetah cub looks to its mother, questioning her about predators, about those who would harm it.

Mother Cheetah responds, “My speed potato, we are the predators.”

And then, the fluffy Cutie Pie reflects… “We…ARE?”

This isn’t so much about being a predator. It has more to do with power.

Gym class always made me feel less than.

When I was a kid, we participated in the Presidential Physical Fitness tests on a regular basis.

The goal was to promote health and physical exercise.

For me, the result was… humiliation.

Gym class always made me anxious. I was an overweight and self-conscious child.

Therefore, I approached Gym class with fear, wanting to get things over with as soon as possible. That included these physical fitness tests that, yes, included running.

Running around the football field at least twice. I did not have the stamina for that. I always came in last, lagging behind the other kids.

And then there was the sprinting. The 30-yard dash. Shuttle runs. The shorter sprints, timed to see how fast a kid can run.

Anxiety really kicked in for me here. I felt the pressure.

Therefore, with anxiety fueling my central nervous system, I threw myself into the sprint. I put every bit of force into running. I tried to go as fast as I could.

Doing so, yeah, maybe I was fast. But I had no brakes. Crossing the finish line, unable to stop, I, inevitably, stumbled and fell to the ground, or to the asphalt.

Usually, there was some kind of face plant that I did as well. Going at a high rate of speed, anxious and adrenalized, with no ability to brake, past the finish line?

Yeah, face plant was certain.

And this toppling over, complete with face plant, was a regular occurrence. It didn’t happen only once. It happened every time. Every time.

Races. Sprinting. Speed. Power. Endurance.

These are all things we face in life.

“I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Not all of us run a race, be it marathon or physical competition… barring the requisite gym class tortures we had to experience in a school curriculum.

But we all run, stumble, fall, and are in some facet of running “our race.”

Scripture, therefore, is comforting here, especially as we recover from our latest life face plant…

“I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11

We are stronger in The Most High than we realize.

Scripture tells us that “His strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Let’s go back to the cheetah.

The wild cats run at a speed of 71 miles per hour. They are known as the fastest land animals, going from 0 to 60mph in just three seconds.

That’s fast, arguably, me- without- brakes- in- gym- class sprints fast.

See for yourself…

Yep, fast.

And, if we just saw that one image, that one moving picture of the accelerated big cat, it would be a black and white case of speed, pure and simple.

But there is also another cheetah reality.

What they SOUND like…

Adorable, huh? Little squeaks? A dangerous predator… squeaks?

Apparently so.

I point this out to state that something that looks like the most dangerous, most intimidating thing in our lives…

Can also “squeak.”

And concerning us, for every disempowered weakness, flaw, insecurity, and limitation, we, conversely, have that power and speed, in and through Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2

It is one thing to feel great, confident and assured when we are sprinting in power.

It is another thing altogether to squeak a tiny, sweet squeak.

This is where we encounter the power of THIS scripture flowing from our lives…

“But the foolish things of the world did The Most High choose, that the wise He may put to shame; and the weak things of the world did The Most High choose that He may put to shame the strong.”

1 Corinthians 1:27

One more thing about the cheetah, specifically, the little fluffy-headed cheetah cub.

The little one is afraid of predators, not understanding that it was powerful… and a predator… all on its own.

The little one, according to this humorous post, does not see its speed. It only sees its “potato status,” referenced, term of endearment-wise, from Mother Cheetah.

Likewise, The Most High is Our Loving Parent, Who reminds us of, yes, of our vulnerability.

But there is ALSO the reminder of Strength, in HIM!

“Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my YAH’s power I can jump over a wall.”

Psalm 18:29

A big key here? Do not fear.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your (YAH) God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.’”

Isaiah 41:10

So, that’s the challenge, to the “Speed Potato” in all of us.

May we reach the certainty of this scripture in our lives.

May we run with this as we run!

“Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Psalm 118:6

ABBA-

I come to You, in The Name of Our Savior, Yahshua.

You know how well I am running. You know if I am stumbling right now.

You know how I fail to see myself accurately.

You know how I struggle to see myself in You.

Forgive me for doubting You, for arguing with You.

Help me to recognize that You are at work in and through me now.

Help me to run the race You have called me to run, with power, success, and speed.

Be glorified as You move through me.

Thank You.

I receive it, by faith, right now.