Running the Race
The time had come; it was race day and time to put all the pieces together. Hours of training, hundreds of miles logged, speed workouts, tears, sore muscles, blisters, eating the right foods, celebrations and days where I just wanted to give up. It was now time to run this race to see if I can reach my goal of running a Boston Qualifying time. Many friends and family were watching in anticipation.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).
Let me put all my worries aside and trust the Lord for his strength throughout the race and that no matter what happens, I will run a race with no regret. The race begins, and at mile nine my calves begin to really hurt. How am I even going to make it to the end? That’s when a person passed me and on the back of his shirt was the verse, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that sufferings produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame” (Romans 5:3-4 ESV). Thank-you Jesus for even given me this opportunity to run this race and for reminding me to truly rejoice in this! The miles continue to go by as I look at the mountains in the distance, and as they do a verse comes to mind, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”(Psalm 121:1-2 NIV). I can do this, just keep on going and as I’m running I find myself saying, “great job” to those I run by or those who pass me.
Approaching mile 20, the race became a real-life vision of the cross where I could in part, identify with Him. As I’m running, I am actually thinking about the discomfort I am in and how incredibly painful it must have been for Jesus to carry his cross, be crucified on the cross and all FOR ME! “So they took Jesus and he went out bearing his own cross…there they crucified him” (John 19:17a-18a ESV). Through all the pain and agony, Jesus didn’t just stop, He pressed on for my eternal life. I may have wanted to spend some time at the water station and just stop, but I must pressed on to the finish line or I won’t reach my goal. I had many cheering me on and praying for me so just keep putting one foot in front of the other. My calves haven’t fallen off yet, so I will be just fine. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 ESV). Only four miles left, I kept repeating, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). I kept receiving texts on my watch, which I was unable to read, but knew who they were from, and knew that they were cheering me on and giving me words of encouragement to just press on, and fight through to the finish. As I rounded that corner and saw the finish line with the clock running, I knew it was going to be close and that I better put it all out there. I crossed that finish line, saw my time and received the text “welcome to the club.” I DID IT! I fought, I finished and I trusted in the process and ran a Boston Qualifying race. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 ESV).
Not only did I grow as an athlete, I grew in my faith and walk with God. I never wanted my running to become a selfish ambition, but to run to glorify God and win others to Christ and this race clearly showed me that I am running for the glory of God. It also made me realize that I need to be just as disciplined in strengthening my faith to endure the race of the Christian faith. I couldn’t have completed my goal with out following a specific plan from my coach. My coach provided me direction, guidance, and encouragement throughout the process. It was then on me to discipline myself to do what was asked and communicate and ask for guidance when I was discouraged or struggling. Just like believers, the Bible is where we go for wisdom, direction and encouragement from the Lord. It’s on us to obey, follow and discipline ourselves to grow in the word to become more like Christ and be obedient to Him.
If you aren’t a believer in Christ, don’t delay in accepting this free gift of salvation. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ESV). Ask someone if you have questions about this process. If you are a believer in Christ, are you walking like Christ? Are you disciplined to read his word and pray daily? Are you pushing through the discomforts in trials you are experiencing and finding joy in them? Are you trusting him and giving him all your worries and fears and sharing the free gift of salvation to others? It is so important that we seek Him daily in His word and in prayer. We must seek fellowship among other believers and let our fellow church members encourage us in the faith. We must welcome rebuke and embrace and find joy in the trials. I certainly can’t walk the Christian faith and grow to become more like Jesus if I don’t put the time to grow in the word. I challenge you to put aside those idols and temptations and seek Him! I want to know that as a believer in Christ, I did all I could with no regrets so that I can hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:23 ESV).
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