Running the race

^“1Therefore, 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. “(Hebrews 12:1)  I’ve been noticing how often living our lives is likened to running a race in the bible.  Since I’ve been running alot these last few months I’ve found that this is a rich and appropriate analogy.  When it comes to running I’d say I’ve made a fair amount of progress, but I’m not where I want to be…this could be said of where I’m at in my relationship with God.  I’ve noticed there have been times over the last few months when I would have much rather walked than run.  There were days that I pushed myself hard and felt my calf muscles screaming, barely able to get my breath.  There’s a decision to be made at that point…push on or turn back.  There were times when I did just that, but I knew I probably could have gone further.  Then were times when I managed to go further, when I found some little reserve of energy that got me through and then it wasn’t so hard.  I think it’s just like that with our faith and our trust in God when facing a difficult time…push on or turn back. 

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:1-4)  I’ve been thinking about the time between suffering and perseverance.  There isn’t often an immediate transition from one to the other, there’s a space between the two called endurance.  I’ve been running long enough to realize that endurance is built by continuously getting to the point when I don’t want to go further, then making the decision to keep going anyway.  Each time I do this I can endure yet more the next time I run, and I’m training my mind along with my body to know how much can be endured.  It’s the same with my faith and my trust in God.  I have a problem, suffering of some sort, an immediate answer doesn’t come or the answer comes in a way I didn’t expect.  I continue seeking God while enduring in the suffering and there’s grace to meet the challenge “perseverance.” 

Preceding those verses in Romans is this 5:1-2 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”  We start with faith and that faith accesses grace.  Grace is like a burst of energy for my spirit that gives me the fuel to keep going.  Because of our faith we receive peace…Isaiah 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.”  So as we go through suffering we are trained to endure so that we can persevere.  Continual perseverance will develop our character because we will come to understand more about our own limitations and God’s power.  My mind is trained as I run so that it controls my body and it’s knowledge of my ability to endure causes me to know when to push a perceived limit.  Character developed through suffering and perseverance recognizes a limit to what can be achieved on our own and the boundless potential of God to act.  God is the source our power and never is that realized more fully than in times of suffering.  Through the dependence on Him that we learn as we suffer and persevere we are able to push through our limitations.  All of this is an encouragement to me as I feel that I am in the “endurance” phase often waiting for the perseverance, but I know that it comes.  Each time that I am able to joyfully seek God and have peace even in the midst of the struggle I’m strengthened and transformed.   I’d rather be strengthened to run further the next time than turn back and give up.

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