How life is like training for a marathon.

The other day, someone asked me why I like to run marathons.  I stood there for a moment in a stupor because I couldn’t think of a reasonable answer.  It’s ludicrous if you think about it, running 26.2 miles.  Suffering.  Causing yourself so much pain and discomfort.  Wanting to die at mile 23.

Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I’ve come to the conclusion that I enjoy it because of the journey to get there.  I enjoy the struggle.  For me, the race itself is secondary to the accomplishment of getting there.

It’s difficult to motivate yourself to run everyday.  Marathon training is a series of tedious and often painful battles.  Each training run is a battle with your body and mind.  It is your will forcing your body to adapt, to get stronger and to be more efficient.

Each battle gets you one step closer to the moment you have been training for, the war.  And a marathon is a war.  Twenty six miles and 385 yards of you vs. you.  Hope vs. doubt.  Mind vs. heart.

Marathon training mirrors life in this same way.  We have everyday battles.  Our goals and dreams aren’t easy to achieve, at least for most of us.  There are obstacles that get in our way and unforeseen forces that want us to fail.  And many of those battles are internal.  As humans, we have a tendency to doubt ourselves.

When you are in one of those battles, remember this:

“For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”  - Jeremiah 29

Doesn’t that say it all?

We continue on because we have hope.  We have faith in a promise.  We have faith that God has a plan and He will show us the way.

During marathon training, I run everyday because I have faith that it will get me to where I need to be. Every step and every mile is an act of faith.  I have a solid plan that will get me there.

God has a plan too.  A plan to get you where you need to be.  His plans aren’t our plans because we can’t see the big picture.  So have faith in his plan and enjoy the journey.

Do you have faith in his plans for you?