“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity and inner peace].” James 1:2-3 AMP

When I read those verses in James this morning, the part about the testing of my faith producing endurance reminded me that life is a marathon, not a sprint. As a runner, I’ve never been fond of running long distances. In spite of my short legs, I’ve always been more of a sprinter. In the military, part of our physical fitness requirements involve being able to run a certain distance within a reasonable length of time.

Thinking back on the way they helped us train to become better runners, I’ve realized that there are many lessons that I find applicable to living a life of faith. In order to be a runner in the first place, you actually have to get out and start to run. Initially, you begin by walking with some running mixed in. Eventually, you transition into running with some walking mixed in. Finally, you’ll discover you’re able to run the entire distance without any walking at all. That doesn’t mean you’re running at top speed, only that you’re able to endure the entire distance at a speed faster than a walk.

Once you reach this point, the goal becomes more about being able to run longer distances in shorter time frames. There are several things that help bring success in this endeavor. Lengthening your stride as you are running, as well as taking the time to stretch and strengthen your legs when you’re not running. Learning to control your breathing while on the move, which is why they incorporate running and marching cadences. Talking or singing as you move forces you to breath in and out in a controlled fashion. It also helps take your mind off of the discomfort you’re experiencing in the moment.

Something else that is very effective for increasing your endurance as a runner are sprints. In our training, they had us do something called 60/120’s. Essentially, we were on a track where we would walk at a fast pace for 120 seconds, then sprint as hard as we could go for 60 seconds, and so on. We would do this for about 40 minutes once a week. Admittedly, this has always been my favorite kind of workout. The last thing I learned that I found most useful in being a successful runner was this: the biggest challenge in running is getting past your own mind. It’s the truth. When you reach a point in your run where you begin to think that it’s too hard, you’re too tired, and you need to stop, you’re done. What I realized is that I had to learn to ignore my own mind. When my thoughts became full of negativity, focused on the pain and discomfort, I would have to shift my thinking and accept that I actually WAS able to keep going. The simple fact was that I didn’t want to because it was getting hard.

Isn’t this our great battle in life? The trials and tribulations we face are the sprints, and during these times we must hunker down and work as hard as we can to reach the next period of walking. They are painful and wearing, but they increase our endurance and faith. Our prayers, songs of worship, time spent with God’s word, and the love of our brothers and sisters in faith, all serve as our running and walking cadences. They help us control our breathing and divert our minds from the pain and discomfort of the moment. In those moments that we aren’t facing a tough sprint, we must remember to use our time wisely, stretching out our spirits and strengthening our muscles of faith. And even though a walk of faith, just like running, is an individual sport, we need to help one another keep going. Just as my drill sergeants and fellow soldiers helped me learn how to become a better runner, we can help each other learn and grow in the face of adversity.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].'” Matthew 16:24 AMP