4 Ways God Grew Me Through Running

10/30/2020

A Runner’s Revelations

As I sit writing this, I have just completed a big goal I set for myself at the start of 2020. For over 15 years I have been a runner. What began as a means of staying healthy and active has turned into a passion and something I genuinely find joy in doing. I’ve run many miles and road races over the years, but for as long as I can remember, I’ve always put a limit on myself when it comes to what I believe I am capable of doing. Whenever I have thought about taking on long-distance runs such as a half or full marathon, I have quickly chided myself and said, “That’s too hard; I could never do that” all the while wishing that I could.

But this year was different. I will turn 40 at the end of 2020, and as this milestone year began, I decided there was no better time to set a challenge for myself.

I wanted to accomplish something difficult, that I had previously thought I never could. So, I started training for a half marathon with the goal of completing one before my birthday. Today, I reached that goal! There were certainly a few moments along the way to getting here that I questioned myself and felt that perhaps I might fail. But thankfully I have had a lot of encouragement from family and friends who have supported my efforts and cheered me on to today’s finish line.

I love running, not only for its numerous health benefits but also because it has taught me so many practical life lessons. There are countless parallels between running and life, especially the life of a believer. I firmly believe that is why Scripture uses the analogy of running a race to describe the Christian life. My years as a runner have allowed me to glean the truths of this description in a deeper way as well as simple life lessons. The last several months of training for this half marathon have solidified and strengthened those lessons in my heart and mind. I’d love to share some of them with you.

1. Success requires planning and preparation

When I first started running years ago, I quickly learned that if I wanted to do it and do it well, I needed a plan. Whether I want to run a certain distance or train for a race, without a strategy my chances for success are small. I cannot expect to make progress and reach a goal without first taking the time to plan and prepare.

For my half marathon, I had to do a lot of research on a proper training schedule and gear, how to increase my mileage, what foods to eat and which to avoid, how to strength train, and much more. That may seem like a lot, and it did take some time, but it saved me so much in the end. Like the old carpenter adage, “Measure twice, cut once,” planning before acting allowed me to make the most of the process and my resources and to avoid unnecessary setbacks.

Any endeavor we take on, whether big or small, requires thoughtful planning and preparation. This is especially true when it comes to the Christian life. Many times in my walk with the Lord I’ve had the desire to know Him and His Word better. I’ve set a goal to study and pray more. But without preparing some sort of plan of how to reach that goal, I’ve sadly often failed. What usually follows such failure is discouragement and reverting to old habits that have prevented me from the growth I desperately desire. Conversely, the times I have flourished in God’s Word and prayer are the result of setting out from the start with a plan.

Knowing what and how I will study, what study tools will I use, and what time of day will I set aside are all-important preparations that have set me up for greater success than if I began haphazardly. Scripture confirms this principle.

“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” Proverbs 13:16

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

Preparation and planning do not guarantee success, but they are necessary ingredients that can help us avoid the pitfalls that lead to failure. 

2. Start strong, finish strong

I used to hear this phrase often when I was a novice runner. I originally confused “strong” for “fast.” However, I quickly found that beginning a run, especially a long one, too quickly leads to disaster. Rather than speed, the meaning of “strong” in this context carries the idea of determination and resolve. I cannot set out on a run with an attitude of “maybe I will; maybe I won’t.” If I do, I won’t run for very long. Running can hurt. Any time we challenge our bodies there will be at least some discomfort. So, a wavering spirit that says, “if it gets hard, I might stop” practically ensures that I will. I must be determined to do what I’ve set out to do.

A strong finish requires the same tenacity. I learned this in earnest training for my half marathon. In the last few miles, my body would beg for a break. However, I knew if I stopped, if even for a second, that would be it. As much as I would have liked to be done in those moments, I wanted to make it to the finish even more.

I’ve experienced this principle in other areas of my life, too. Whatever we do in life requires us to be determined from start to finish. God’s Word exhorts us in this truth.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.” Ecclesiastes 9:10a

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Are you wavering under the heaviness of a difficult task or calling?
Are you growing weary and discouraged in a tough season with seemingly endless demands?

Encourage your heart that, by no mistake, God has brought you here for His perfect purposes. What’s more, He gives the strength you need to carry on with determination and resolve.

During my training, I had so much support from my family, especially my husband. He went out with me on countless early morning training runs and was a constant source of encouragement. However, in life, we may not always have such support or cheerleaders by our side. But in truth, we have something far better. We have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. God has promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Because He is our source of strength, we can be strong, even in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The race is hard but we can finish strong if we keep our eyes on the greatest prize — knowing Christ and becoming more like Him.

3. Saying yes also means saying no

In this life, there seems to be a continual barrage of responsibilities, opportunities, and to-do’s that demand our time. However, every time we say “yes” to something, we are also at the same time saying “no” to many other things. As finite beings, we cannot take on an infinite amount of activities. If we try, we won’t do them well, and we will have to face some negative consequences.

When I began to consider the challenge of a half marathon, I knew I needed to assess my priorities. What were the things in my life that were non-negotiables and must remain? Of course, my responsibilities as a wife and mother are always primary. Additionally, I would not want to take on anything that would cause me to neglect time with the Lord and His Word. After setting those priorities as paramount, I began to streamline my time and tasks, until I was sure that I could reasonably take on training for my race.

From the biggest challenge to the most mundane activity, whatever we do with our time, God desires us to do it with excellence. He calls us to quality, not quantity. 

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

This requires that we evaluate our time, responsibilities, and activities when presented with new opportunities. This is particularly hard when it comes to ministry. When my husband and I were first married we dove into service at our church with both feet, involving ourselves in multiple ministries. After several months, not only were we burning out but we realized we had become so busy with serving that we were rarely sitting in the service under the teaching of the Word. We had to make some difficult but necessary choices and prayerfully consider where God wanted us to concentrate our desire to serve.

We should never be stingy with our time, especially when it comes to service, but if we feel we must say “yes” to every opportunity, we aren’t able to give our best to what matters most. Sometimes that means saying “no” to good things. But saving our “yes” for the people and things that are most important frees us to devote ourselves in a way that displays excellence for God’s glory. Prayerfully consider what God wants you to devote your “yes” to and then give it your best.

4. Do hard things

Running is difficult. That is why when I tell people I run, the feedback I often get looks something like a scrunched up face and a response along the lines of, “That sounds too hard.” Yes, running is hard, but it is also very rewarding and can be a lot of fun.

Hard things are worth doing when there is value and purpose in the doing. We all do hard things every day.

Marriage
Parenting
Caring for an aging parent or family member
Loving a difficult person
Serving in church
Going to work each day

Sometimes these things are not easy. All of these require a dying to self and selfish desires. There are often many days that any one of those things as well as others can be truly difficult and feel burdensome. However, there are also blessings and joy that come from the hard things we do. Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it isn’t also good, full of joy, and worth pursuing.

But why is it that we tend to avoid hard things? The answer is comfort. Any day that I’ve been tempted to put off a morning run is likely because I’d rather stay in my warm, cozy bed and get a bit more sleep than to exert myself with a 10k run. Likewise, when given the choice between enjoying our comfort or taking on a difficult task, we tend to choose the former.

Just like comfort is the pull that keeps us from strengthening our bodies or increasing our physical endurance, it also hampers us spiritually. It prevents us from:

Going on that short term mission trip
Volunteering to serve in a church ministry
Showing hospitality to that new family at church
Sharing the gospel with a coworker

Comfort is what keeps us from putting ourselves in the way of what will stretch and strengthen us. It beckons us to stay right where we are—safe, secure, and satisfied.

However, if we want to grow we need both sunshine and rain. If we want to make an impact, we have to step into the rushing waters and go against the current. Hard things draw us out of our comfort zone, and if we commit to seeing them through, we will be changed and strengthened, often beyond what we thought possible.

God calls us to do hard things. He has made us and equipped us to be pursuers and to persevere. The apostle Paul exhorts us in this way, “Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality” (Romans 12:11-13). This is a call to action. Believers are not called to live passively, but rather as eager and active doers. In Philippians, Paul emphasizes this yet again saying, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” God wants us to press, to strain, and to climb—all hard things. And there is great purpose, value, and worth in this call. Doing hard things to further God’s name and His kingdom is both an act of obedience and worship.

So, set goals and pursue difficult tasks in life. But even more so, be eager to take on hard things for God. Don’t allow the desire for comfort to deter you from a ministry, a person, or an opportunity. It may be hard, but it can be done because our God is faithful.

I am so very grateful that God brought running into my life. It has strengthened me in many ways and taught me countless lessons. Our God is incredibly kind to use the temporal things of this world to teach us, grow us, and point us to Himself! If you had told me a year ago that this is where I would be, I am sure I would not have believed you. But day by day and little by little, I got here and met my goal! And even now, my husband and I are planning out how we can do a full marathon together in the next several months! But more important than any earthly race, we desire to run the race of the Christian life in a way that honors our great God and the time, gifts, and abilities He’s granted to us. When we cross life’s finish line, may we be able to say like the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (1 Timothy 4:7).