My Race To Run.

The purpose of my blog has always been two-fold:

1. An outlet to share what God puts on my heart
2. A place to encourage others in their journey with Him

“… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

It’s the tag for my blog because I believe in it. (Click here to read my very first blog!)

We each have a race to run, marked out for us by God. And if we’re going to make it to the finish line, to our final destination (eternity in Heaven with God) – we have need of perseverance.

Why?

Because there are moments when pain is present. There are times when trouble finds you. And we must learn to keep going.

That word for “perseverance” is one of my favorites in the Greek – hypomonē (G5281). It means “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy; in the New Testament the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; patiently and steadfastly.”

It’s easy to keep going when it’s smooth sailing. It’s easy to forget about cheerful endurance when the storms of life come our way. It can be natural to let go of hope and joy while we try to take control and navigate the choppy waters.

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” – Hebrews 10:36

Hypomonē. We have need of it. To be unswerved from our relationship with God, to keep running our race of faith with purpose and loyalty.

Hypomonē is a noun that comes from the verb hypomenō, the word for “perseveres” in the following verse…

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” – James 1:12

Hypomenō (G5278) means “to stay under, i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere; to remain, i.e. abide, not recede or flee; to endure, bear bravely and calmly.”

We persevere; we bear up under trials bravely and calmly. The world takes note because the usual response is to quit when the going gets tough. We stay in our lane, we abide in Him; not just to pass the test or survive the trouble, but with the ultimate goal of crossing the finish line and receiving an eternal crown of life.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

We persevere because it matters. This life, this race, matters. We train and learn and grow so that we can keep going. Sometimes it’s small steps. Sometimes we crawl. But we keep moving forward because Jesus is victorious.

“No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 NET

I love what part of this verse says in the Amplified Bible…

“… but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.”

Easier said than done! But I appreciate the depth in the word “able” – I’m not able to endure in my own strength, but the Holy Spirit makes me capable and strong and powerful. Not just to survive the trial but to endure it – with cheer and hope – to bear up under it with patience and grace. And trusting in God’s faithfulness – He will always provide a way out of the trial. He is our Deliverer!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

We don’t have to lean on our own understanding; we can trust that He will show us which path to take, a path to freedom with Him.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer by slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” – Leviticus 26:13

He has set us free and enabled us live with our heads held high. With our heads held high, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). With our heads held high, we can fix our thoughts on Jesus, our apostle and high priest (Hebrews 3:1).

Our posture matters in this race heavenward. We can’t keep going if our eyes are on our shoes and our thoughts are set on negativity. To persevere, we will have to learn to fix our thoughts and our eyes on Jesus – not just when things are good. All the more when things are hard!

“You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place.” – Galatians 5:7-8 MSG

We throw off distraction and disappointment, we rip off sin and serpents, and we keep going. We run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I write for you, and me, to remind us all to keep going.

No matter the trial, temptation, test or trouble – keep going.

No matter the mountain blocking the way or the valley you must walk through – keep going.

Don’t give up – on God, on the local church, on others, on yourself.

Keep going.

Stay in your lane.

Fix your eyes, your thoughts, your heart on Jesus.

Don’t quit.

💗

On my playlist this week:

• Awakening by Amanda Lindsey Cook
• You’re Not Finished Yet by Maggie Reed/The Belonging Co
• Loved by Fresh Life Worship