“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57
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Throughout my coaching career, I’ve had the privilege of knowing several highly successful cross-country coaches. Without fail, they always have their teams walk the course before race day. Why? Because successful runners don’t just show up and hope for the best — they prepare. Walking the course allows them to familiarize themselves with the course layout and identify key challenges, like hills and uneven footing. Walking the course helps them pace themselves wisely, run the course with confidence, and avoid costly mistakes. By mentally mapping out the race beforehand, runners are prepared and confident.
As runners carefully study the path before the race, we need to do the same thing as we train for our personal race as followers of Christ. Life is full of changes and turns we didn’t see coming, hard times, and even times when we feel like we totally veer off track. The enemy’s sole mission is to see us fail, lose our way, and give up on the race God has set out for us. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Obviously we can’t always know how and when the course may change in our day-to-day lives, but reading God’s Word, seeking Him continually in prayer, and daily growing in our faith will equip us with the tools we need to run the race of life with endurance and confidence.
As 1 Corinthians 15:57 reminds us, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the race of life, victory is already secured through Jesus Christ. By trusting Him as our Savior, we share in His triumph over sin and death. This assurance empowers us to run our race with confidence, knowing that the ultimate victory is already ours in Christ.
— Melissa Motes
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