In life, we all have our own race to run. Every race is different, yet uniquely beautiful. Whether you are married or hope to be married. Whether you have five kids or hope to have kids one day. Or whether you work outside of the home or serve as Cheif Operating Officer of your own homestead. We all may have different lives and races to run; yet our races share a common thread. While running our races it is important to remember that is that life is a marathon, not a sprint.
We live in such a go-go society. We often go from one thing to the next without much thought. Looking to complete one thing or task on our to-do lists, so we can go on to the next. Although there are many things in life that are short-term or short-lived, that does not mean their effects are or we should live our lives in such a way.
…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
If life were a sprint, then we would not need endurance. Yet, with the ups and downs we have and will face in life, we need endurance and a long-term view. Knowing that nothing lasts forever. While also realizing that the decisions we make today can affect our tomorrow. So having a marathon like view of life is so important.
Moving to Boston has given me a greater understanding of marathons and respect for marathon runners. The Boston Maraton is a big thing here. We affectionately call it ‘Marathon Monday’. School is out and it takes center stage. You are either glued to the TV or out along the race route cheering the runners on.
No one decides on Sunday, that they are going to run a marathon on Monday. I have a few friends who have run in the Boston Marathon. The amount of strength, dedication, and endurance it takes to run a marathon is amazing.
Rain, sleet, or snow, they are out there training throughout the year to prepare for that one day. Knowing that in order to complete the race they have to put in the work on all the other days leading up to Marathon Monday. We have to do the same thing in life.
We have to put in the work daily to run our race well. Whether we want to be physically or spiritually healthy, have healthy marriages, and families; we have to have that long-term view and work ethic. Trusting that we may not know when we reach our finish line, but staying committed to building the endurance and running our race the best way we can.
…and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 5:4 (ESV)
Growing in knowledge, wisdom, and character every step of the way. Looking at our completed tasks, goals, and achievements, not as finish lines like in a sprint, but as checkpoints or mile markers like in a marathon.
While also looking at those setbacks, failures, and storms in life the same way. Keeping us encouraged and allowing is to see how far we have come. Yet, knowing that we are not finished yet. Ultimately looking to live like life is a marathon, not a sprint.
So this month we are going to do just that. We are going to look at different area and aspects of our lives and find ways to take them out of sprint mode. Look at different things we can all do, both big and small, to take a more of a marathon like view of life and do more of the things that will help us finish our race well. Are you with me?!
I’d love the hear what areas of your life
you would like to take out of sprint mode in the comments!
YES! I can’t even tell you how timely it is that I’m reading this right now. I have been sprinting sprinting sprinting and totally wearing myself out when what I need to be doing it taking it slow and steady so I don’t burn myself out.
I totally agree with this! Although I haven’t given too much thought to it previously, I now recognise that I’m sprinting far too often.
I definitely needed this reminder today. God has really forced me to sit still for a minute and I’m trying to RUN! Lol Thank you for the reminder that it’s all a part of the process.
You are right. Life is like a marathon, not a sprint. I love how you tied the Boston Marathon to your example. That particular marathon has had so many survivor stories. I am always touched when I see how people make the best out of the worst.
It’s so true that life takes endurance! This is a great reminder to take it one step at a time. Thanks for the read!
This was such a good reminder in today’s busy society!
Love it and so so true!!!! Got MS a few years ago and realised as well that life should be a marathon and we should value what we have. Thank you for this great article
Being affected with an illness, like MS, can definitely help you to have a perspective change, Yasmina. 💕
I’m not sure how I never really noticed Romans 5:4 before, but reading it this morning was exactly what my heart needed. Such a great message! Thank you for providing the reminder when I needed it most. ❤❤
Such a great reminder! I’ve been working on dropping the sprint life pace and trying to switch to marathon/more long term.
Such good wisdom. It’s hard sometimes, but taking a long term approach to life and major decisions has so many benefits.
I loved this post. Not only do we need to enjoy life where we are but if we want to succeed at the marathon of life it takes dedication and planning!
What a lovely post! Learning about the marathon but then how it also equates to life. Thank you.
Your posts are always wonderful to read. I definitely agree that the ups and downs of life, and our will to endure, forces us to focus on the fact that life is a marathon and not a sprint. I love this!
That scripture in Romans gets me every time!! This is something the Lord has been working on with me!
I love your perspective here. It’s so important to remind ourselves to slow down and live in the now.
Thanks so much, Jessica!. Taking the time to live and enjoy the now is so important.
Yes! I am learning this so much now that we had our third baby. I tried to do EVERYTHING, and instead felt lonely, lost, and like a huge failure. I am learning to just do a little each day and give myself some grace.
Giving yourself grace is huge, Shannon, and something it often takes us a while to realize. While also realizing that we are not failures and need a little encouragement along the way.
This is so important to remember. We all could use some slowing down and taking in what’s around us!
So true, Adriana. We often have to choose to slow down despite the things going on around us.
This is so much truth! It is very difficult because the world tells us to Run full bore all the time.
This is such great advice! What a good comparison. I do this much too often in my daily life. Sometimes you just need to slow down.
You are definitely not alone, Catherine. We all need to slow down at times in life.
Yes, each day is an investment. I often want the payoff for reaching goals RIGHT NOW. Steady wins the race. If only we would just slow down, what would we be able to notice?
I know right, Kat. I often am so focused on the end goal, I miss the beauty of life along the way.
I feel like a lot of areas of my life, and even day-to-day life, could benefit from slowing down. I also want to apply this mindset to blogging!
You and me both, Jackie. I have had to embrace that even during the busy seasons of life, I can find ways to slow down in many ways.
I absolutely love this comparison. Life is a marathon with lots of training and steps that help us get to where we want to be along the way. Thanks for all the good insight and reminders along the way!
Yes, Danielle. We need the training and all the steps along the way. 💕
Love this, it’s so true. The analogy of living life like a marathon instead of a sprint is the perfect analogy.
I practice this at work where I am supposed to speak as fast as the talker on the phone. Sometimes I just can’t keep up AND do an 8 hour shift. So when things get to fast I use the pause pedal and remind myself that I need to work like I’m in a marathon not a sprint. Thank you for bringing it to life in general. That’s great advice!
We all need pause buttons in our lives in different ways, Denise.
I absolutely love your perspective here. No matter what kind of changes we wish to see in our lives, they do not happen overnight. Especially when it comes to lifestyle changes or character building! We have to commit to taking each day as it comes and staying committed for the long haul!
Love that saying about character. Great reminder to be in there for the long haul and take your time and enjoy the journey.
My blog should be considered as a marathon and being a freelancer. It’s tough if you haven’t done something before; and I easily think it’s just going to work out – like a sprint.
That’s a good word! Thankfully, God doesn’t call us all to be physical runners. I can do the spiritual marathon much better than an actual one.
This is so true. I am always in sprint mode. Working full time, managing a house, husband, and kids and running multiple side hustles. It is exhausting. This weekend I realized I was running on fumes and not really getting anything done effectively. So I am slowing down! Great post and great reminder!
What an amazing analogy with the Boston marathon! Life is definitely a marathon, even if we let it become a sprint sometimes. But sprinting is sure hard to maintain, and while you’re sprinting in one area it’s sure easy to let everything else slip by unnoticed. Small, steady progress really does work over time. Thanks for sharing!
Yes to all of this! It is so easy to be short sighted in your life goals/plans and not think about the long term!