Happy New Year! Since it is the beginning of a new year, I was thinking about all the things I accomplished and went through in 2015. I thought about the most difficult but most rewarding thing I did, and it had to be when I finished my first half marathon (13.1 miles) in April. This was so new and different for me because I never actually enjoyed running until I went to college. It was such a stress reliever and escape from school and life problems that I began to crave it. I trained for 5 months before I ran the OKC Marathon and never felt more proud to cross that finish line! I started training again yesterday and felt like I wanted to die just after two miles. I started to doubt my ability to run this physical race again. I then started to think about the WorldRace and the emotional race 2016 has in store for me. I need endurance spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Hebrews 12:1-4 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
I love that! These four verses are so hopeful and insightful to me because it gives the perfect picture of a runner in my head. It is applicable for all of us because everyone has their individual life race to run; the life race Jesus laid out for you and me. A few things stuck out to me…
- Long distance races take a lot of hours training and preparing for the race. Some days I run extremely well and leave with a smile on my face, some days I have to walk between miles, and some days I can’t even make it to the gym. This is talking in sense of a physical race but this also applies to my spiritual race. I am not perfect in any sense. Some days I am on a high for Jesus and I truly live with Him as my main focus, but there are also those times where I get so focused on this world and the problems I am facing that I forget He is in control. There are times when I go days without even opening my Bible. How can I train for trials and struggles when I don’t prepare by reading the tactics and guidelines in His word? I can’t. I must train my heart and mind to react and think in the way Christ would.
- When I picture a runner serious about their race that is about to start, I do NOT think of a woman who is wearing a big and poofy dress with tall heels or a man with a camera around his neck and holding all his wife’s bags and purses that covers his face. I picture someone wearing their best shorts and tank with tennis shoes and good quality socks. The clothes are lightweight and probably dry-fit. Hair is definitely pulled back and out of their face so they can see without distractions. In verse 1, it says for us to throw off anything that hinders us or slows us down. I started to think how I could do this… It starts with my sin. Sin is a huge weight.
- I need to be surrounded by Christian friends who push me to God. I used to think I could walk with Christ on my own. This past weekend I was blessed to be surrounded with over 12 thousand college-aged students praising Jesus and I got to experience the benefit in Christian relationships. There is a reason why He tells us to surround yourself with friends who live out a Christ-centered life. There are also activities I need to drop that hinders my focus. We all have certain sins that get us… gossip, lying, drinking, jealousy, and worrying are a few examples. Getting rid of some of the weight will make it much easier to run the race God has laid out for us.
- So I might ask HOW? How do I run with perseverance? Verse 2 gives the answer… “Fixing our eyes on Jesus.” Keeping focus on Jesus at the finish line is all we need to know. He is there waiting on us and to help us when we need a little “pick-me-up” or a sip of water for our dry and thirsty mouth so to say. He has endured more than we could ever imagine at the cross for you and me. He loves us so much and is coaching us each and every day and is there to cheering us to keep running. All I can think and say is, thank you Jesus!!
- So I might ask WHY now? Why should I? Verse 3 holds the answer… “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” When we face trails and hardship, it is so easy to lose sight on the big picture. Just yesterday, I went to the gym and had to take a break after two miles. I started to doubt that I could start training for the half marathon again. I began to lose heart! Jesus tells us that we are not alone, and that He is there to help us! He shows us that suffering is the training ground to mature as a Christian. That gives me so much hope. The WorldRace is going to be the longest I have and probably ever will be away from everything I have known. I know it is going to be difficult and hard but Jesus is always consistent and is going to be right beside me and He is right there beside you!
We are called to run our race. Everyone’s race looks different… we have to continue to run even when it is hard to. Christ never gave up, and neither should we! Run for the prize at the finish line which is Jesus Christ and the eternal life He has promised us.
