Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What is the hardest thing you have ever done? How did you work through it? Some tasks in life are extremely challenging for us. Having a baby, getting through school, running a marathon, and so many other things in life can’t be accomplished without enduring some kind of challenge. We often do our best to avoid the challenges of life, and some challenges are not worth enduring. But the goal we’re trying to reach pushes us to persevere through the hard moments of life. The goal of having the child gets the mom through the difficult delivery; knowing graduation is coming and the degree will be received gets the student through the hardest class; and the finish line keeps the runner going through the longest leg of the race.

In this passage, we are called not to avoid our struggles or give up when we face challenges of life but to run with endurance in this race. We are called to keep our focus on the only One who can bring us through the opposition we face. We could try to focus ourselves on the obstacles in our way, getting frustrated that our route is harder than someone else’s. We could try to find the best methods to go through the hard times so that we are doing it correctly. But this passage brings us back to this simple, fundamental call: run to Jesus. He showed us the way to get through the hard things in life, not by comparison or strategy but by running toward the One who can carry it all: our heavenly Father. He sets before us joy and life and every reason to run even though life is hard. He will be with us every step of the way.

• What have been the hardest parts of life you’ve endured? How have you persevered through them?
• What are some hard parts of life that you have tried to avoid? What happened?
• Pray and ask God to help you learn how to run to Him and let go of the obstacles and sins that you fixate on.