#Run the race with endurance full#

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. Our God is with us, inviting us the chance to grow. But there are also opportunities for great joy. Struggles and questions still stand before us the race is not yet done.

To recontextualize the race as one in pursuit of the Lord-in pursuit of a God who has already pursued and chosen us-is to be revitalized and bolstered. We are not running away from the obstacles and difficulties of this life, but instead, we are running toward God, our Father. When we embrace and live out of this understanding, we can face our challenges from a new perspective.

#Run the race with endurance full#

James’ letter assures us that although the steeplechase of our lives is long and full of struggles, God is strengthening and refining our “endurance” so that we can be perfect and complete in Him. ⁵If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. ⁴So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ☿or you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. “☭ear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. The first chapter of the book of James offers us encouragement for those seasons when our endurance is pushed to its limits. We may not see the finish line, but we can be assured that the Lord is guiding our steps. God’s vision for creation is one of hope, restoration, and joy. Suffering and pain are unmistakable realities of our world, but when we read scripture we are also reminded that sorrow will not have the final word. The obstacles we encounter during the race of our lives are unknown and unpredictable. And while athletes push themselves toward a finish line within their sights, we are unable to see the end of the race as of yet. In many ways, each new day has felt like taking on never-ending obstacles during a steeplechase. As we cheered on athletes and their displays of strength and focus, we might well have felt the ache borne from enduring a year’s worth of challenges.

Just as the Olympics offered us the opportunity to balance global unity and celebration with personal concerns and ambitions, the unpredictability of 20 have at times galvanized us as a planet while also highlighting the insidiousness of division and self-interest.

A reflection on the 2020 Olympics in the midst of a challenging season.Īs we sit a few weeks removed from the Tokyo Olympics, we reflect upon various parallels between this major world event and the circumstances we have collectively withstood.