Six Things I Learned From The Race

We’re all running a race—at least a spiritual one. The Christian life isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon, with its unique challenges, difficulties, victories, and joys. To commemorate the start of my teaching retirement, I participated in a local half marathon. That early May morning a heavy fog hovered, allowing only the streetlamps to dimly shine through. The stillness and quiet spoke louder than the hum of activity. I anticipated the race would be long and difficult, but I also expected God to be with me—that’s what I had prayed for, a real revelation. What He revealed to me, however, was quite unexpected. God showed me (literally showed me) six things that will enable all of us to successfully cross our finish lines.

To begin, we’ll need to go back several weeks prior to race date, to when I started training. My training involved a daily commitment to strengthen my muscles and develop endurance.  We, too, must exercise our faith. Without regular time with God, we could miss the right road or pass out from exhaustion.

One of my weekly training spots was a dirt track around the circumference of a small neighborhood lake. A posted sign let me know that a couple laps around the lake was equivalent to a mile. Most times, though, my deep thoughts caused me to lose count of my laps. Collecting rocks—one rock equals one lap—fixed the problem. I’d store these rocks in my pants or jacket pocket or hold them in my fist. When a lap was completed, I’d throw a rock into the lake. When all the rocks were gone, I was finished. But a new dilemma was created. The rocks in my fist or pocket were weighty, bulky, and distracting.

A sinful habit or attitude can resemble rocks in our pockets that weigh us down. We’ve got to throw off that weight. We can’t run into this day or season with burdens we choose to stuff in our pockets. Toss them into the lake of God’s love and mercy. Hebrews 12:1 tells us, 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 (NIV).

After trotting along for the first seven or so miles I began feeling weak. I slowed my pace, allowing dozens of fellow racers to pass by. With eyes downcast to the road in front of me I was able to spot the enemy. Stretched across in what seemed to be the entire width of the road, was a snake. This snake in my immediate path, however, was dead—flat out, car-squished, and dried up. Unable to hiss. Powerless to strike.

The real Enemy was first introduced in the Garden of Eden. Today, Satan cleverly slithers his way into hearts and minds, distorting God’s truth, hissing lies and casting doubt. Satan is alive and continues to hiss and spew his venom, scheming ways in which to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)—steal our purpose, dreams, strength, peace, and joy; kill our hope and faith; destroy our family and relationships. With God-confident strength we fight against Satan’s attacks. Use God’s Word and His promises to slice up Satan’s lies and cut him to the core. He will be unable to hiss. Powerless to strike. Unable to spread his venom.

As I continued, I found myself trotting beside another woman. Within a minute, though, she was no longer beside me. I glanced back and saw that she had fallen behind. Using only my eyes and hands, we communicated. I pointed to her with my index finger and then motioned for her to get back to her spot beside me. My body language said, Get up here girl. We can do this together!

We jogged the rest of the way, side by side, occasionally smiling, but never talking. Our positions showed support for each other, and this provoked an atmosphere of community. We wouldn’t want to trudge through the valley of hard times without someone to help pull us up. Neither would we want to reside on the mountaintop alone without someone to celebrate with or share the joy.

A couple of hours had passed, and I still wasn’t finished. Headed up a steep hill, I managed to whisper ouch. My calves ached. My feet were tender, and my breathing labored. My entire body was weary. Part of me said, quit. The other part said, don’t ever give up—persevere and press on.

When we’re climbing the hills of hardship, we may feel like the wind has been knocked out of us. Our heart is aching, and our mind confused. Let’s not give up. The hill will level. The difficult times will get better, the relationships will heal. And we will leave this marathon of heartache running better than before with renewed strength.

Philippians 3:14 tells us, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (NASB).

Suddenly I reached the top of the hill. Cresting the top of the knoll offered me hope—to complete what I’d started. The downhill felt good with wind blowing ever so gently on my sweaty, grimy face. Gravity worked in my favor and moved me along. For that moment I felt sweet freedom. The road leveled. I heard distant cheers, coming closer.

I caught sight of the Finish banner, the people, onlookers, and runners alike. I spotted my husband standing on the sideline with my daughter: “C’mon mom. You’re almost there. You can do it!”

A sudden burst of energy allowed for a sprint.  With my eyes focused on the goal ahead and the prize, I dared not look back.  Philippians 3:13 tells us, But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead (NASB). I ran under the banner, across the drawn line, beside the large clock, and into the arms of my family. Hebrews 12:2 says: Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (NASB).

Finished. A completer. My family’s cheers, words of confidence and encouragement brought me to the finish line.

Our spiritual race has a different finish line. One day we will win the prize when we run into the arms of Jesus. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). We are not alone in this race. Hebrews 12:1 says, We also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us (NASB). Heaven is cheering us on.

Do not be discouraged by previous defeats. The victorious runner doesn’t look back. Run your spiritual race with confidence, looking forward to the prize of hearing the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I drew six conclusions that day:

• Regularly strengthen my spiritual muscles
• Throw off weight
• Identify the real enemy
• Live in community
• Persevere to the end
• Focus on the prize

Thank you, God, for teaching us what is required to run our spiritual race and successfully cross the finish line