Run the Race

“Do you ever get tired of running?” 

A friend asked me this question today. I said no, because I really enjoy running. I explained that I get tired of doing the same workouts over and over again, but I don’t think I ever get tired of running itself. 

I haven’t really thought about that before. I repeated that question again in my head for the next several hours. I wanted to answer truthfully, so I kept questioning my initial answer until I was sure about it. 

I’ve decided that I don’t really get tired of running. Obviously I still get tired while running, but I don’t think I get tired of running itself. 

As I do with most things, I thought about how this might apply to my relationship with God. The question changed to “Do you ever get tired of running for God?” Once again, I have the same answer—no, because I really enjoy it. 

One of the greatest feelings in the whole world is feeling like I’m accomplishing my purpose in serving God and advancing his kingdom. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to best align my priorities with God’s will. In the past, sometimes I’ve thought, “Oh, I’ll make time to serve God when my schedule allows it and I have the energy to do so.” 

But serving God isn’t something we should do only when we have the energy. Rather, our lives should be an act of service to God in everything we do. Whatever “race” God has equipped you to run, run for God (Colossians 3:23). I believe that when we run for the right reasons, God will strengthen us to keep running (Isaiah 40:31). 

As we run the race, we must remember WHY we do it. If you train and train but never race, you’re forgetting your purpose. In track, you can train all you want, but if you never race, you’ll never know how fast you are. The same is true for life. You can spend your whole life doing nice things and trying to be a good person, but if you’re not living for God, then you’re living without a purpose (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). 

We train to get faster. The training itself is necessary. But at some point, we have to race. We have to remind ourselves why we train. We have to remind ourselves that ultimately, we are doing this for God’s glory, to advance his kingdom, and to be faithful with the gifts he has given us. 

So RUN. RUN THE RACE. And RUN FOR GOD. 

As you run, don’t forget to enjoy it. Look back at how far you’ve come and be grateful for every step. Look forward to the finish line and remember why you do this. And encourage others along the way, that you might inspire them to run for God, too.