Keep on Running

I ran a marathon this last weekend. Actually, I only ran 20 miles of the marathon - it was a training run, so I quit early. But it was still tough. I got to about 17 miles and every bone hurt, every muscle ached, I felt like I couldn't get enough air or go any faster. Despite my best efforts, I walked several times in the last three miles. I hadn't made up my mind before I started the race whether I would run the full 26.2 miles or just do the 20 miles my training schedule called for. When the pain in my foot started at 18 miles, that decided it. I gave up.

Now in my case, it was probably wise that I quit at 20 miles, because otherwise I ran the risk of a more serious injury on a training run, but that got me thinking - how many times in life do we quit before the finish line? How often do we just accept the bad and believe that "that's just the way life is," instead of pushing on for God to do something amazing. I was over 3/4ths done with the marathon, and there is a part of me that wishes that I would have finished - even if it would have meant walking the last six miles.

You will feel the same way if you give up before the "finish line" in your situation. There will always be a part of you that will wonder what greatness awaited you at the finish. Your trial may physical, emotional, financial, or relational. You may feel like you can't go on, but God says that He will provide all your needs (Phil 4:19) but your task is to finish - to put one foot in front of the other and cross the finish line. Only then will you feel the accomplishment of a job well done.