HITTING THE WALL

BY PASTOR MATT PERKINS

“LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.”

GALATIANS 6:9 (NIV)

It was early morning, and the sun had not yet peeked over the horizon. I remember lacing up my shoes, stretching my muscles, and taking a deep breath of fresh air. I was about to embark on a journey that I would never forget. I was one of 37,000 runners registered for the Chicago Marathon, and I was determined to prove to myself—and to others—that I could do it.

The first few miles were easy enough. My body was fresh, and my mind focused on the task at hand. But as the miles began to add up, I started to tire. My legs felt like lead; my lungs were on fire. I wanted to give up—to walk or even crawl the rest of the way—but something inside kept pushing me forward. Not going to lie, it was pretty discouraging when I was giving it everything I had, and at mile 23, a guy in a full Kermit the Frog costume passed me like I was standing still.

I then realized this marathon wasn’t just about physical endurance but spiritual endurance. Just as our bodies need food and water to keep going, our souls also need spiritual nourishment. And just as our bodies can become fatigued, so can our souls. But we cannot give up! We have to push through the fatigue and the pain because we know a prize is waiting for us at the end of the race. Jesus said, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

No matter how difficult the journey may be, we must persevere because we know that God has promised us a reward if we don’t give up. He will refresh and renew us, just as He did for me during that marathon all those years ago.

Moving Forward

If you are feeling weary today, take heart! God is with you every step of the way. Trust in Him and lean on Him for strength.