“…At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” -Isaiah 60:22
Envision being at the beginning of a race—feet separated, leaning forward, eyes staring toward the expansive stretch of land you must sprint across. With anxious anticipation, you await the sound that signals the start of the marathon. Enclosed behind bone and skin, is the steady da-dum of your beating heart. You’re focused and ready. All the training, workouts, and dieting prepared you for this exact moment. It’s now your time to shine.
“GO!” a static-laced voice bellows, propelling the hurried commotion that follows.
With black scripted numbers taped to their backs, different racers donning various colors move from their starting positions. Likewise, you’re off like a rocket released for launch—seeing your competitors as nothing but colorful blurs as your tunnel-like focus remains on the path ahead. Along the sidelines, onlookers cheer excitedly while some lift colorful signs high into the air and others clap.
Adrenaline drives you forward with your arms pumping alongside you and as your toned legs take huge strides. Soon, you find yourself ahead of the others with the blazing sun’s rays shining on you, sneakers slapping against the concrete pavement, and the cheers of the onlookers fading. Minutes into the race, you see a mile marker hugely displaying how much further you have to go, and you’re proud of your progress—to be so far ahead.
Until the adrenaline starts to leave, and you feel the toll of exertion descending upon your frame. Suddenly, the sweat coating your skin like a warm blanket is noticeable as some beads slide down the sides of your face. The breaths escape between your parted lips in quick, heavy huffs as if you can’t inhale quickly enough. Your calves now scream in protest at your running. Your pace is slower, and your ears pick up the sounds of other shoes scuffing the pavement. One person has sauntered on by with headphones tucked in his ears and the number tacked to his back waving almost as if it’s tauntingly waving goodbye at you. Then another in green attire jogs past without giving you a fleeting glance. And another racer eases on by as your sprint turns into a light jog.
In this moment, defeat seems imminent and ready to be accepted. Shock, disbelief, and confusion greet you in this time as you continue forward despite wanting to stop altogether. The mental inquiry begins. Why did all that practicing not pay off? Did I train and diet for nothing? How come I’m not seeing the victory right now?
Important questions to consider whether in the middle of a marathon or tackling a life goal. We can start off with so much drive, motivation, determination, and excitement for the outcome. However, somewhere along the line of the race, we can encounter fatigue or uncertainty. In fact, we may even discard our faith focus for what only the natural eye can see, and that can cause us to mistakenly doubt or believe that the promise/goal won’t come to fruition.
When encountering those types of moments, I want to encourage you to remember 1 Corinthians 15:58 and the part of Isaiah 60:22 that’s quoted at the beginning of the post. The first scripture assures that your labor is not in vain as long as you continue to be steadfast, unmovable, and abounding in the work God’s called you to do. During the journey, you may need to take breaks or even slow down a little, but don’t give up on the goal. It is yours if you keep pursuing it. The second scripture indicates that at the right time, it will happen. In the midst of the race, the odds may look against you; the work may seem futile; the goal might appear too far away or not likely to happen at all. However, you must remember that we should walk by faith and not sight. Consider what you know to be true: God’s promises and Holy Word. Then, continue to do your part with the assurance that it’ll all come to pass at the right timing. Let that assurance be your motivation to keep going and not give up no matter how things may look or how long it’s been since the start. Also, remember why you started. Then, continue to stay in the race.
Hopefully, the poem below serves as a little extra encouragement to Stay in the Race. Thanks for reading!
Stay in the Race
The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong but to those who endure to the end.
What matters about this race is just getting to the finish.
The time doesn’t matter.
The placement doesn’t matter.
The course doesn’t matter.
Running across that white finish line is the predetermined goal.
How you get there won’t be based on your speed, your strength, or your wit.
How you get there is predicated on Whom you’re associated with,
what He’s promised, and your persistence.
And I’ll admit that the journey to reach it—the finish—won’t be easy.
Just to even get started took some preparation that other people didn’t even see.
Hours of planning, conditioning, and timing yourself.
Sacrificing what you want for what your body needs to handle this quest.
Discipline and spending time with the Coach that knows exactly what it’ll take to get there.
Yeah, blood, sweat, and tears mixed together to ensure success.
You took “Faith without works is dead” to heart and made sure to do your part.
That’s why at the start you were filled with excitement, determination, motivation—
An energy that conveyed an air of anticipation.
When the Coach promised the outcome, you harbored on the fact that victory is already won.
Still, the action of running it must be done.
But now, you’re miles into the run
With the adrenaline and excitement wavering and your pace slowing down.
Your determined demeanor gives way to unexpected uncertainty.
Questions begin to overshadow the promise.
Will I reach the goal?
Should I continue doing this pace or switch it up?
Why is it taking so long to get there?
Then, your focus shifts from your lane to the other runners.
Seemingly surpassing you with a steady stride.
Their progress drawing the attention and support of the crowd.
No signs of exhaustion appearing to distort their countenance.
They look to be victory-bound while you get left behind,
Slowing down,
All alone.
Giving up may be easier than pushing forward,
But at the end of perseverance is the desired promise.
The win comes with a guaranteed reward
While accepting defeat comes with nothing but regret.
Even in the challenge of reaching the win,
The Coach is in the midst of it with you.
He’ll give you strength when you’re weak.
He’ll remind you that you can do all things through Him.
He’ll assure you that at the right time you’ll reach the goal.
Thus, your labor is not in vain.
The race is contingent upon you not getting out of your lane
Or abandoning the race.
You can do this;
The victory is yours.
Don’t abandon the assignment,
And it’ll come in God’s timing.
No matter the pace
Or the other runners in the race
Or the time that’s already elapsed
Or how far away the finish line seems
I encourage you to push through and continue on the journey Ultimately, I urge you to stay in the race.
© Andréa Hardaway 2025
Andréa Hardaway 