Humbly Run Your Own Race:

This past year, I have been talking to a lot of people about running my first marathon.  I am really nervous and stressed about this.  I am often thinking about what I should do when it comes to my long runs, my regular workouts, etc.  I am thinking through what I should do when it comes to fueling or when it comes to my hydration.  While attempting to conquer this feat, I have also been doing a lot of thinking on my mental stamina.  How will I best focus on Christ to get me through this run and training?  Will I find myself just looking at other people and the comparisons that can be very easy to make? 

We as runners can often compare ourselves.  I know I can struggle with this.  I have been running for years, and I am still not as good of a runner in speed or stamina as some others are.  However, when I spend my time thinking about how I am not as good as others are, I don’t actually get better at running.  I definitely start feeling better about my running when I just focus on my own race.  

Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” I enjoy this verse for the reminder that jealousy, envy and comparison really can have a decaying feeling.  It can feel as though we are rotting because we are just seeing everything with ourselves as wrong and then seeing the things in others we like more.  This takes a lot of mental energy.  

Yes, I do believe we can challenge one another.  Sometimes we just need the push from someone running a bit faster to get us to go a bit faster as well.  But we need to remember that if we can’t keep up or if someone is just faster than us or at least on that day, then we need to focus on our own race and our own run.  We can only do our best.  We can’t do the best of someone else.  We can only do all the Lord has given us the ability to do. 

I also can fall into the trap of comparing myself when it comes to those I believe I am faster or better than. Running can be hard to not to boast about at times.  There was a joke said at my church once about running marathons.  Once you have run a marathon, you may want to bring it up in a lot of conversations.  Or there is the joke that after you have gone on a long run, you will feel the need to mention it throughout the day.  For example, there have been times at work when I mentioned I am sore because, “I had a long run today.”  I can definitely be guilty of this from time to time. 

Ephesians 2: 8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  This is a reminder that everything we do is because the Lord has created an opportunity for us and has given us the ability to complete a speedy run or to win a race.  The Lord is the one who helps assist us on these long runs.  The Lord gives us complete ability.  

We shouldn’t boast.  Even when we do a long run or when we have a race where we win.  We can boast about what Christ has done in our lives.  This humble attitude we can have when it comes to running, is something that can really bring us closer to God as well as others to Christ. When we do well and we give all the glory to God, people are going to be surprised by this.  They are going to wonder what has given you this humility and this joy for the Lord.  

Both of these things don’t just apply to running and exercising.  These can also apply to our work, our friendships, and our commitment to the faith and church.  I have mentioned this many times, but I definitely spend a lot of time comparing myself at work.  I want to be considered the best employee and the best member of the team.  However, this doesn’t help me see my team as one and what we can all do together for the kids and families of Waterloo. I need to focus on being a member of the team and working hard for the Lord at my job for His glory.

The challenge for this week is to be reflective of the moments when you can start to compare yourself to others. This again could be the times when you compare yourself as to something you want to be better in or when you compare yourself as in believing you are the one who is doing better.  This could be when you are working or exercising like me.  This could be in any of your other hobbies like music, crafts, or sports.  This could even be one’s devotion to God and serving in his church.