Faith in the Middle of the Race

There is something about the middle of a journey that can test your faith. At the beginning, there is excitement. You have energy, a goal in front of you, and confidence that you can reach it. But somewhere between the starting line and the finish line, doubt can begin to whisper. I remember experiencing that during a marathon.

I had trained. I had prepared. I started the race believing I could finish. For many miles, I kept moving forward, slow but steady. But when I reached the 59th Street Bridge, something shifted. The bridge seemed massive. As I began the climb, I could feel the strain in my body. The height, the incline, and the challenge before me felt overwhelming. Suddenly, I wondered whether I had enough strength to finish.

I started looking around. People were passing me. Some seemed to be moving easily while every step felt harder for me. I began thinking about how slowly I was moving, how long the race was taking, and how much farther I still had to go. Before long, I was not simply running anymore. I was comparing. And comparison began feeding my doubt. Maybe I can't finish this.

The race had not changed. The finish line had not moved. I had already completed mile after mile. But standing on that bridge, I lost sight of how far I had already come. What changed was my focus.

That experience reminds me of Peter. When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he asked Jesus to call him out of the boat. Jesus said, “Come.” And Peter came. He stepped out and began walking toward Jesus. He was already doing what seemed impossible. But then he noticed the wind, became afraid, and began to sink. The wind had been there all along. What changed was where Peter was looking.

Isn't that what sometimes happens to us? We begin in faith. We step out believing God has called us forward. Then we reach our own version of the 59th Street Bridge, a place where the climb becomes steeper and the journey suddenly feels bigger than we expected. Then we look around. Someone seems to be moving faster. Someone appears to be doing better. And before long, we are measuring our progress against someone else's pace.

Hebrews 12:1–2 reminds us to “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.” Notice: the race set before us. Not their race. Not their pace. Yours.

Peter began sinking, but that was not the end of his story. He cried, “Lord, save me,” and immediately Jesus reached out and caught him. Jesus caught Peter before He questioned his doubt. That is grace.

During my marathon, I had to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Eventually, I crossed that bridge. And eventually, I crossed the finish line. Perhaps you are facing your own bridge today. The climb feels steep, the journey feels long, and you are wondering whether you can continue. Do not let the size of the challenge make you forget how far God has already brought you. Keep running your race. The bridge may be difficult, but it is not the end of your story. Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep moving forward.

Pearl"s Prayer:

Lord, when the journey becomes difficult, help me remember how far You have already carried me. Keep me from comparing my pace with others. Turn my eyes back to You, strengthen my faith, and help me keep moving forward one step at a time. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

 I Am The Vessel, God Is The Grace