Lessons From My First 5K

The other day, after returning from a run, I told my hubby, “I feel kind of funny calling it running because my pace is so slow." 

My hubby says, “That’s because it’s not running, it’s jogging.”

Pouting, I respond, “Yeah, but it seems like running to me because even if I were being chased by something dangerous and scary, that's as fast as I could move.”

“Well…then you’d be dead.”

This conversation got me thinking, not that my hubby needs to work on his motivational skills, but whether it matters how fast I run or just that I cross the finish line?

So today, while laboring through my first 5K, I got to talking to God about that question. Here is some of the lessons He taught me.   

 

Lesson One:  Don’t feel bad about walking up the hills. I had my mind set on running the entire way but when I got to the bottom of the first big hill, no matter how hard I tried, I had to walk. At first, I felt disappointed in myself until I realized that this is my first 5K. I don’t have to hurt myself to prove anything. After reaching the top of every hill, I would start running again. God reminded me that it's OK to walk through the hills in our life as long as we keep focused on Him to help us reach the top. Then, after we have rested in Him and He has renewed our strength, we start running again. 

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Lesson Two: Don’t cheat. After making it up the 2^nd hill, with my legs dying, I looked over and saw another hill. A crazy thought ran through my mind, “Wow, I could totally cheat. I could cut through this yellow tape to the top of the 3rd hill. No one would ever know.” But that was my sciatica talking. Even if no one saw me, I’d know that I cheated. Cheating in life robs us of the joy that God blesses us with when we stick it out. 

Colossians 1:11-12 (MSG)

…We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

Lesson 3: Don’t run for worldly pursuits. With about ½ mile to go, I saw this sign and it made me laugh. As I made my way to the finish line, I thought that even if Ryan Gosling were waiting for me that wouldn't be the reason that this was one of the best days of my life. What made this day so memorable is that fact that I set a goal for myself and I accomplished it. The world tries to offer us substitutes to real joy. Real joy and peace come from running with God and for God. That Spirit filled joy only comes from doing all things through Christ that strengthens us.   

Ecclesiastes 2 (NLT)

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless...In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.…I had everything a man could desire!

…Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.  But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

Lesson Four: It really doesn't matter how fast you run. What matters is that you keep going even when the going gets tough. You keep training to build your endurance to conquer those hills. Don't believe the enemy's lie that you're not able to do something that God wants you to do. With Jesus, all things are possible.  

Philippians 3:12-14 (CEV)

Running toward the Goal

I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.

So as I crossed the finish line and my friends and family cheered, I was reminded that God is always cheering us on. He’s not looking for the best time on the clock. He’s watching us through the loving eyes of a Father, in pride that we made it, up the hills, over the pot holes, through the shifting sand, and across the finish line. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

So, let's keep running - together - towards God's finish line.

Love,

Yolanda