It's a long way there

Like the honor of “just being nominated” for an award, simply surviving a long-distance 26-mile endurance test is considered victory by those who actively engage in the sport of marathon running. Similarly, life is not a sprint, but a journey of epic proportion (1 Kings 3:14), filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and valleys, twists and turns, the expected and the unexpected. With boundless grace and the miracle of mercy, God gives each one of us gifts and talents to navigate the course He has prepared for us (Exodus 9:16). Eyes fixed firmly on the finish line, we summon our strength, stamina, agility, endurance and perseverance to run the respectable race. Bumps in the road are unavoidable, but taking a spill here or there does not signal the end of the event. Rather, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, offer thanks for the obstacle and realize that the hurt is always healed by the satisfaction of completing another mile (Jeremiah 32:19). Imagine Jesus at the finish line, encouraging, inspiring and motivating us to dig deeper and expend extra effort, so we may share the joy of our accomplishment. Realizing how and why we arrive at such an achievement propels us to participate, but knowing our ultimate destination is key. There’s a place up ahead and I’m going just as fast as my feet can fly.