“I have finished the race.” —2 Timothy 4: 7
The Greeks had a unique race in their Olympic games. The winner was not the runner who finished first, but the runner who finished first with his torch still lit.
Paul finished with his torch lit. He struggled with his weaknesses, his sometimes difficult personality, his fears, and his pride. Reading his letters reveals much about his personal battles. He fought anxiety, fear, spiritual oppression, doubt, guilt…the list goes on, as the human condition is revealed throughout his writings.
But he kept going. I could say he didn’t give up, but in many ways he did. He gave up trying to figure it all out on his own. He gave up his self-sufficiency and learned to draw his confidence and strength from the Lord. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” he said (Philippians 4:13).
Life is a race that God wants us to win—but we need to keep going. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” says Hebrews 12:1. Each of us has a unique race, a course set just for you, or me, and no one else. You don’t have to run anyone else’s race. You don’t have to look like them, run like them, or even keep up with them. You just need to run your race, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
If you feel like you are falling behind or about to stumble, realize that all it takes is a mustard seed portion of faith to keep your torch lit.
For most of us, the finish line is still a ways off. For others, it’s drawing near. For others, it’s drawing near. I pray that you will keep going, knowing that God will give you the strength to carry on each day, step by step, mile by mile. He wants you to finish well, with your light shining and His love ablaze in your heart.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run andnot grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” —Isaiah 40:31
