A Prescription for Running Our Race Even when Life is Hard

Life is hard. As humans we face so many difficult, heart-ripping circumstances that make it almost impossible to move forward. Trying to reconcile why things happen or make sense of the messes we find ourselves in can be entirely overwhelming. Whether we are being affected by things out of our control, combating personal sins and temptations, or we’re suffering devastation caused by the sins of others, God’s Word has the prescription for moving forward.

1. We must strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

2. Run the race God has set before us. Not limping through but running with endurance.

3.  3. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the One who initiates and perfects our faith.

 Regardless of what we are facing, this prescription is a guarantee.

God tells us to strip off every weight that slows us down. When a bed is stripped, all of these sheets, blankets, and pillows are removed. The bed is completely bare. That is what God wants for us—to strip ourselves of every weight (not just some of the weight) that threatens to slow us down as we run our race. This is especially true for the sin that will trip us as we run. Whatever that sin might be, it needs to be destroyed. We must rip it away from our lives and begin to view it the way God does so we can clearly see its ability to destroy us.

God calls us to run the race He has set before us. We must remember that our race looks different from those around us. We will not always be going in the same direction or moving at the same pace because God’s plans for each of us are personal to us. It isn’t His desire for us to crawl or limp to the finish line. He wants us to run with endurance, which is what trials produce in life.  However, there will be days when all we can do is crawl and even then, He is there with us, always encouraging us. And on the days when we can’t even move, He will carry us.

Part 3 of this prescription is the key to the other two. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the One who starts and finishes our faith. Keeping our eyes on Him is the only way to strip away the weight that holds us down and rid ourselves of the sins that entangle us. Focusing our attention on Him is the only way to continue our race when all we want to do is give up.

Jesus experienced it all—devastation, pain, shame, rejection, fear, sadness, loneliness, etc. He kept moving forward in His race because of the joy that He knew was to come. We can do the same. When our eyes are on our Jesus, we are reminded of His great love for us and the example He gave us. When we determine to focus on Him and what He has promised, we can throw off anything that keeps us from moving forward and run with endurance.

No matter what you’re facing today, the prescription found in Hebrews 12:1-2 is there to help you guide you as you run your race. You’re not alone either, there is a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on!

 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Tori