“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:12-14, NLT
I still have to remind myself over and over of a basic principle when I’m working out: Holley, today you can go farther or you can go faster. But you cannot do both. When you’re running, that’s usually the choice. And in life it is too.
So if we plan to do something not for a while but for as long as we can because we love it, feel called to it, and the touch of heaven is on it, then sprinting is not the solution. Instead, let’s live and work like we’re going the distance.
I share in Fiercehearted that this means intentionally choosing a different pace. It means showing up over and over. It means letting people pass us. It means refusing to give in to the fear that we should always be doing more and instead continuing to faithfully, unglamorously do what matters most.
This makes no sense in our instant world. It’s upside down in the time of social media updates. It seems less sexy and exciting than the fast and the fancy. But it’s reassuring too, isn’t it? To know we don’t have to push so hard. We don’t have to go big or go home. We can just be obedient and leave the results to God.
I hope sometimes we get to go fast. That there are moments with the wind in our hair, the hearts in our chests pumping wildly, and the ground a blur beneath our feet. But I’m asking Jesus even more that we go far. That we make it around all the bends in the road. Watch the leaves turn from green to amber gold. Have like-hearted companions with us. Take the next step, then the next step, all the way.
Let’s keep running our race at our pace. We’re doing better than we know. See you at the finish.
XOXO
Holley Gerth
P.S. Want more encouragement for your journey? Join Holley for the free Fiercehearted Fall Study on Facebook.
P.P.S. This post is also over on (in)courage this week. If you’d like to leave a comment, you can click here to do so.
