Running with Endurance

Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

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As a runner this verse makes so much sense to me. Everyday I go and train for 2 or more hours for races. Some days I am on top of the world feeling like my life is going great, but other days I drag along hoping I can fall down and be done. I sometimes wonder why I put myself through the deep pain and mental agony that running puts me through, but then I have a race after a tough workout week that makes me fall in live with the pain all over again. I then want to get better to then run stronger.

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So much of this connects to my walk with Christ. You have to put in effort to your journey with Christ. You cannot just go to church once a week and think this is enough to be effectively growing. In running you have to dedicate time to work your butt off in the offseason to build a strong base, and in our faith we have to push through times that are hard by continually showing up to the feet of Jesus daily. The mediocre runners come when they feel like it, the dedicated come day in and day out no matter how they feel because they know they are bettering themselves for the season ahead. This is how we should be as Christians. So many of us spend once maybe even twice a week at church and call it good. We may even pray occasionally, read a quick Bible verse, maybe a 5 minute devotional and think we are living our Christian life to the fullest. I know runners who have this mindset and let me tell you they always wonder why they are not succeeding or growing or PR-ing in races. They wonder why the dedicated runners are beginning to pass them up or keep growing and they stay the same or regress. The reason is because the dedicated go out in the rain or snow or 14* weather and keep pressing on. Not because we think it is fun, but because we know we are better for it.

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Christians wonder why their little church visits are not making them stronger. They look over at Sally who spends each day journaling and diving into all God has for her daily and wonder why they are not like her. Sally is so passionate and fearlessly pursuing Jesus and they want that, but they are not willing to put in the effort or give up comfort to be like her. We all have times where we want to be better but just cannot seem to get there. We want to love others and be passionate as we once were or as those around us are, but we do not want to give up our comfortable life to pursue the one Jesus has for us. We cannot put our phones down for 30 minutes to talk to the Savior of our souls. We cannot stop our own agenda for 30 minutes to go love on a girl crying in the lunchroom. Friends, we (I am as guilty of all) cannot live in a life of comfort anymore! We need to put down our personal agendas and sit at the feet of Jesus! We need to go and love people around us! We need to be dedicated to Christ in ways we never have before because He has great things for us, but we are missing out because we fill our lives with junk. Friends, when things get hard, trust me they will, we need to already be clinging to Jesus trusting him in every step. Runners have really good seasons and really bad seasons. Sometimes the training before the season is not for the races ahead, but rather to help you come back from the injury or bad season. Sometimes the lack of training beforehand brings a bad season. In seasons of plenty cling to Jesus in preparation for the seasons to come. You do not know what season is to come, but know that clinging to Jesus now will better you for the season ahead.

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The race we run in Christ is no one else's race. The race is "the race set before us"- individual race, your race. Everyone has a different story, different route, different pace. Do not compare to other's races. They may be on mile 5 and you are on 3 or you may be running 7 min/mile and they are running 6:30 min/mile. Set your gaze on Jesus because he is the course master and sets your workouts for you and you alone. Build endurance everyday by spending time with the Creator of the course. Running is the most fun with someone else. Run the race with Christ. Friends, I am praying for you and do not give up when you hit a hill or get spit on. Keep pressing on. Keep Running. -APF