Keep Going!

The Iron Man is an incredible race where competitors swim, bike, and run for an almost impossible distance. Some racers trot across the finish line with energy to spare; others can only walk. A few crawl to the finish, reserves depleted. But whether they run, walk, or crawl, the crowd cheers and the announcer calls out, “You are an Iron Man!”

When my son crossed the finish line in 10 hours and 13 minutes, he said, “I knew you were waiting for me to finish, Dad, so I just kept telling myself to keep going.”

There are two encouragements to perseverance in today’s verses. The first is the great cloud of witnesses, people of faith who have run the race before us and finished. We think of their effort and toss aside anything that would hold us back. The second is Jesus, who also ran the race, and is the source and completion of our faith. We are to fix our eyes on him.

We don’t always do it perfectly. We stumble. We fall. Sometimes we are tripped up by sin. It is so easily entangle our steps. But then we get up and keep going.

Are you running in stride with full energy? Keep going. Are you struggling, crawling? Every race has its difficult moments. Keep going. The race is marked out for us. What matters is crossing the finish line. Keep going.

The course is different for each of us. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He waits with a great cloud of witnesses. Keep going!

I need strength for the race today, Lord. I don’t know what’s around the next bend, but I want to finish the race. Help me to run well! Amen.

Go Deeper — Watch this video

of a father who helped his weary, struggling son across the finish line in the 2016 Olympic games. Understand how much more your Heavenly Father is there to help you.