I held the lightweight jacket up against my chest. I reached into the package and admired the finisher's medal for the race I have yet to run. Even though I had paid the participant fee, I hadn't earned this gear. If know that if I had truly run that race, I would have persevered. If I had run the race, I would have experienced pain. I would be stronger because of it. And I would hold that jacket and medal as if they were truly mine.
Months before, I had checked the box to run the race as a "virtual" half marathon (meaning I would run the 13.1 miles at a time and place of my choice). Years ago, I ran my first half marathon and I loved it. Eventually pregnancies, cross-country moves, and various aches and pains slowed me down. I signed up for this half-marathon a couple of years ago, but had to push back my registration due to health.
This past spring, I felt determined to run that half marathon this year since I had already paid the fee, so I began running regularly. Running is exhilarating! Endorphins feel good. The body becomes stronger. Running outdoors is a way to enjoy nature. Once a person really gets into running it feels so good!
But this year I fizzled out too soon due to health and life events, becoming more of a couch potato than a runner by the time my race gear arrived. Then, as I held the medal, I thought about how different I would be if I ran the race that week like I had planned. I would be stronger, more fit, and glad that I had given it my all.
It made me think about some parallels between running and living our faith in Jesus. The reality is that living the Christian life is like running a race. Conversations with dearest friends have reminded me that walking with God for decades involves difficulties but it so very worthwhile! Here are a few race-related points to remember when living our life of faith is hard.
1) The Christian life is like a marathon, not a sprint. For anyone who turns to Christ before they reach their deathbed, the faith journey will be long. Living our faith affects all areas of our lives. A Christian marriage means that your marriage will require perseverance year after year, and it might feel like a marathon. As a Christian parent, you will be leading and teaching your children day after day (and night after night) for decades. Living out our Christian faith can feel messy, like running a marathon in the rain. We might run through mud or extreme temperatures. We might step in nasty things during our run. We might be in pain. We might question our decision and want to quit. We might wish it were easier. But a person serious about running a marathon keeps on running. Living our faith means that we "run with endurance the race that lies before us." (Hebrews 12:1)
2) We must stay on course. We must get up every day and persevere, and we must "press on to know Him." We read and listen to God's Word. We worship. We sing to Him. We pray. We keep going. Day after day, we choose to endure. When must align our thoughts with God's Word. When our marriages are struggling, we must bring everything to God. When our parenting feels overwhelming, we dig into God's Word and press on. God never promised that following Him would be easy. Based on my own life and on my observations of friends and family members who have been following God for a long time, I can promise that this life of faith can be challenging... but always worth it.
3) There will be suffering. God never promises that the Christian life will be easy. Instead, suffering is part of the process. In John 16:33 Jesus says that we will have trouble, but He also reminds us that He has overcome the world. 2 Timothy 2:3 says, "Join me in suffering." It's a fact: there will be suffering in the Christian life, so let's not be upset when it happens! In the book Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot, she defines suffering as "wanting something you don't have and having something you don't want." This definition applies to countless areas of our lives. I am fully convinced that Jesus makes all things better in this life, and at the same time, I also know that life is still hard. You and I will suffer, but hardship is part of running the race. God's Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance, a book by missionary and pastor Andrew Brunson, describes his decision to cling to his faith throughout suffering. This book reflects on the years he was falsely accused and jailed in a foreign country. I could give countless examples of suffering, so if you're feeling it today, know that it's simply a part of the race we're running.
4) The prize will be worth it. I'm studying Hebrews alongside some dear friends, discussing our way through the book in a small weekly zoom call. We're almost to chapter 11 - that notable passage about faith. The ultimate reward of our faith is relationship with Jesus both here on earth and in Heaven for eternity. The nearness of Jesus in the past few years of trials in my life assures me that He is worthwhile. I know that there are Christians dying for their faith in Afghanistan who would tell you that clinging to Jesus is worth it. When my unborn son died unexpectedly last December (you can read more about it here), I began thinking of Heaven in a new light: it's not just the afterlife where we sing "hallelujah" forever. It's God's Kingdom forever! We don't fully understand what that means, but I know without a doubt that there is a much bigger picture of what God is doing than what we can see right now. As Christians, we walk with God on earth and after we die, we spend eternity with Him. Yes, God gives us specific callings and wonderful blessings here on earth, but ultimately our greatest reward is Jesus!
That half marathon I didn't run would have brought personal fulfillment, but the prize that came in the mail wasn't that big of a deal. However, choosing to keep running through a life of faith is significant. I'm persevering in this life of faith alongside many of my friends and family members and people across the world because we believe that knowing God is worth it. This life of faith is long, like a marathon. Sometimes it's pleasant, sometimes it's difficult. There is suffering. We persevere, we press onward, we believe that this race will be worth it.
If you're at a point in your faith where you're thinking "wow, this is hard!" I hope that by reading this you realize that suffering and hardship is a normal part of faith. It's okay. Find other believers who are running that race as well. When I ran my one half marathon, I had moments where I was choked up in emotion as I watched the runners all around me. It's hard, but we were doing that hard thing together. You and I can persevere, continue running this race, reaching for the prize: Jesus. I promise, it's worth it.
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