"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:9-10)

A twenty-five kilometer race. A hot day. Thousands of runners. The gun goes off and the feet start moving.

For those of our church family who are currently runners (Danielle Wangsness and Russ Kaegbein to name two), there is a real excitement when the race is on. For those of us who are not exactly runners, the analogy of the race still speaks to our every day lives in Christ.

There's an exhilaration in the beginning. The newness of the morning. The thrill of competition. The exuberance of the cheering well wishers. The energy of fresh legs. The surge of adrenaline.
Newness of life with Jesus. The moment when you first saw him and the joy you felt. The complete trust. The incredible assurance. The energy of a life committed to him. The power surge of the "third rail" - the Holy Spirit's adrenaline rush.

And then:

the breathing becomes a bit labored
the heat starts taking its toll
the calf muscles are crying out
the pace slows down
and you begin to entertain thoughts of quitting - dropping out, giving up, going home before you get to the finish line.

Life is like that sometimes:

your stubborn child frustrates the patience right out of you
your health is a constant worry
your supply of sympathy gets tapped so often that you feel you've run dry
your closest friend's refusal to communicate with you leaves you frustrated and angry
your job has lost its challenge and you are close to hanging it all up.

Maybe, just maybe, you need a word from the Lord today: "But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." (Hebrews 3:6) He is faithful. He went the distance in his life - and in his death. He will not forsake. He will not give up.

So hang in there! Keep going, you who feel hopeless, you who are ready to quit, you who are weary in doing good. You're in God's house, and the faithful Son of that house will see you through!