A Race to the Finish

I woke up in the middle of the night with this particular phrase on my mind: Life is not a sprint, it's a marathon. I pondered on this God given revelation for quite sometime and I began to apply it to the many facets of my life. I realized that by looking at life like a marathon, the odds of victory are way more likely than the methods of a sprint mentality.

Do you remember when all the kids in your neighborhood would line up to race to the stop sign or some other short destination? Everyone would watch each other as their opponent was preparing to run. The anticipation mounted as someone shouted the words, ready set go! Each sprinter would take off and in the blink of an eye, the race would be over. The winner would do a celebratory dance and then everyone would go on to the next adventure like nothing had happened.

In a marathon, however, there has to be alot of preparation before you can even take on a feat of a ten or twenty mile run. Many factors are involved in whether or not the race will end in success. Dehydration and fatigue can become hindrances in the race. The runner has to make sure they keep a steady pace or they may find themselves running out of gas at some point during the race. Marathon runners have to take into account the hills they may have to climb as well as the areas designated for pit stops and water breaks. Once the race is finished, the runner has a since of accomplishment that lasts a lifetime because they completed a task that some would consider to be impossible.

Discipline, determination and the will to persevere are qualities that separate sprinters from marathon runners. In life, we have to realize that we can't look for those quick thrills that come from worldly ideals and fleeting success. It is so much more gratifying to enjoy the marathon of life and all of the lessons that come with the journey.

The race of life is won by enduring to the the end. When we recognize that the pitfalls and moments of uncertainty are only a part of the journey, we will be more apt to persevere through them. Have you prepared yourself for the marathon or do you see life as a spontaneous sprint to the finish? It takes careful planning and a strategic mindset to successfully navigate through life. I've learned that the key to success is to press through the moments where I feel so tired I can hardly move. I make a conscious effort to take advantage of the pit stops in life by building on my relationship with God and staying connected to Him. Every stage of this marathon called life is different. There will be moments where you are full of energy and zeal and everything is going smoothly. Then there will come a time when you have to slow down and reevaluate the terrain you are traveling down.

Most importantly the key to success in the race of life is to remember that you are not in it alone. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that we have to run our race with patience and look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. I'm determined to cross the finish line and hear my Savior say,  "Well Done thy good and faithful servant"!! I encourage you to do the same. Stay your course, navigate the marathon of life and Finish your race!!