Run Your Race Well
“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, 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.” (Heb. 12:1-2 ESV)
At the beginning of the year, we often feel the need to embark on some great project of self-improvement. When our calendars change over to January 1, we act like our whole year depends on how much we accomplish that first week. For many, it’s become a week of creating impossible standards. We’re so energetic after a festive season of celebration that we run as fast as we can after as many goals as possible. Many of us know from experience that this only leads to burnout, failure, and disappointment. Our inability to maintain such a frenetic pace causes us to abandon all of our efforts and return to our previous behaviors.
A lot of this pressure comes from our online culture. It shows us snippets of others’ lives that are seemingly perfect, people who appear easily able to continue an all-out blitz on their goals indefinitely. However, individual variables such as jobs, children, health issues, economic barriers, and so on aren’t factored into the equation. Social media ads are idealized representations designed to make us feel bad or guilty enough to purchase what they’re peddling. What if we chose to turn away from all of the empty promises offered to us? What if, instead, we looked to Jesus to show us what an abundant life truly looks like?
The verse in Hebrews reminds us that we need endurance to fulfill our God-given purposes. We’re not participating in a sprint, but a marathon. Success doesn’t come quickly, but through regular, faithful work. Jesus utilized tools to complete his specific journey. Three of them were prayer, community, and focus. We can also use these tools to run our race well.
Prayer
Jesus showed us the importance of prayer. In the Bible, we read multiple accounts of Jesus going off alone to pray and be ministered to by God. We don’t know exactly what he prayed, but we can guess it involved asking for God’s help in fulfilling his plans. He probably asked God for eyes to see and ears to hear those who would cross his path. Maybe he was assured by God of who he was: loved, accepted, worthy, and purposed. Perhaps he also reminded himself of who God is: faithful, trustworthy, present, and in control. Let’s make prayer a priority as we seek to run with endurance.
Community
Jesus surrounded himself with others who also desired to fulfill their God-given purposes. While he spent the majority of his time leading the group, he did have a few close friends he sought for comfort, encouragement, and prayer. They were able to remind one another of their goals and offer assistance during challenging periods of their ministry. Jesus encouraged them to partner with others rather than try to minister alone.
We, too, should seek out people to be in our corner. We can stay motivated by surrounding ourselves with others who are focused on achieving their unique callings. We benefit from mutual encouragement as we run side by side.
Focus
Jesus did not try to accomplish everything the people around him asked. He knew what his priorities were and didn’t let others distract him from his purpose. Their requests were often worthy, but having spent time with God in prayer and being reminded of his goals through his relationships, Jesus had what he needed in order to keep his focus on the race he’d been given.
God hasn’t asked us to be part of every good work going on in the world. He’s given us abilities, experiences, and levels of influence for specific work. We can discern what that is through prayer and our community, and then we can work diligently to carry it out. We shouldn’t feel bad for not being able to do everything because we weren’t built to be world savers. But we each have our own specific race that is unique. Let’s focus on our own callings and not compare them to anyone else’s. Jesus didn’t compare his race to John the Baptist’s or anyone else’s. He just went about his work. Let’s remember his example as we seek to accomplish God’s purposes for us.
Father, Thank you for the example of Jesus in how we are to run the unique race you’ve prepared for us. Please help us to make time daily to meet you meaningfully in prayer, find communities of similar-minded individuals for encouragement and support, and remember that we weren’t called to all good works, but only the ones you’ve established for us and equipped us for. May we run our race with endurance and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11 NIV)
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Cor. 12: 12 NIV)
Reach for More
If you are missing one of the tools mentioned above, consider figuring out how to integrate it into your life. If the thought of finding a community is overwhelming, consider finding just one friend who is focused on their goal and inviting them to partner with you in mutual encouragement. Use prayer to receive God’s guidance as you seek to live your God-given purpose.
is a mother of two who loves reading, writing, traveling, and introverting. When she’s not at a class at the gym, she can either be found perusing used book stores for great deals or exploring her new town of Asheville, NC. She is the author of Between Us Girls and can be found chronicling her reading journey @meganbyrdreads on Instagram or writing about life at meganbyrd.net.
Photograph © Brandy Kennedy, used with permission
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