Enduring the Race

This race we are on is a race of endurance. It isn’t about speed or how quickly you finish it, but the testing of how far you will go and endure for God.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” – Hebrews 12:1-3.
What this verse is saying is that in this race, you are surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses which are people who have finished the race and made it home. They are cheering you on as you traverse through the course of your race. The verse tells you to throw at the feet of Jesus your weights, anxieties, fleshly fantasies, and anything that would ensnare you into sin. It tells us to run with endurance; however, if you are carrying all this extra and unnecessary weight, it will wear you down a lot faster. The world already has enough problems it wants to throw at you to weigh you down, the last thing you need is to hold on to something that weighs you down even more. Another key thing these verses tell us is to look to Jesus because Jesus already went before us to show us that this race is completable, encouraging us to keep enduring and keep going because you will finish if you don’t give up. Jesus not only went before us to show us that we can finish it, but He also left us with the best gift that would aid us in this race, the Holy Spirit.
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” – John 14:16-18.
The Holy Spirit will be there with you guiding and teaching you everything you need as you go along your race. He will encourage you when you get down, and He will lift you up when you fall down. You’re not alone on this journey and this race. The Father gave you the best partner to help you along it. Even when you fall, you get back up.
“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” – Proverbs 24:16.
It isn’t about how you fall; it is about how you get back up. Even if you fall many times, you still get back up to continue the race. See, endurance isn’t about doing something without falling. Endurance is about doing something regardless of how many times you fall because you get back up. The race is full of obstacles and hurdles you have to jump over. However, if you stumble on one of them, the race isn’t over because you can still get back up and finish. Don’t let a small hurdle be the reason you gave up. God will grow you and strengthen you through these times of challenges and obstacles. He will give you the stamina so that you may endure it.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:2-4.
In the same way, through this race, you are going to face seasons that will really test you. However, God will use that season as an opportunity to produce endurance and patience. When you let patience do its perfect work, you will be able to endure anything even when it makes you stumble. So overall, never stop running this race, and never give up. Continue to endure regardless of how many times you fall because those who don’t give up are the ones who receive the reward of eternity with Jesus. They are the ones who finish the race.