endurance

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)

In this passage the author is speaking to early Hebrew Christians.  He is encouraging them to remember the heroes of the faith mentioned in Chapter 11 – heroes like Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.  The author is using a metaphor to describe how the heroes of the faith who have gone before them are now admonishing them and encouraging them to not give up on their faith.  The heroes of faith are like the crowd in the stands that cheer on the athletes during competitions.

The author encourages the early Hebrew Christians to fix their eyes on Jesus, remembering how Jesus suffered and endured the cross and now sits at the right hand of the Father. This metaphor encourages them to throw off everything that discourages them and avoid sin which separates them from Jesus. Successful athletes think only about how to win. Their confidence comes from the strategies they learned from their coaches. 

 

Have you ever heard the phrase, “hitting the wall?”  Maybe you personally have had this experience during a strenuous athletic event like a marathon. This experience causes athletes to become weak, dizzy, experience headaches, or blurred vision. 

What causes these symptoms?

Strenuous athletic activities require a lot of carbohydrate energy, so a depletion of carbohydrate energy is the cause.

Carbohydrate energy is produced when the body digests foods high in carbohydrates.  There are two types of carbohydrates in food: complex and simple. Pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread are examples of complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are  found in oranges, apples, and sports drinks.  Athletes eat complex carbohydrates before the competition to store up energy.  They often drink sports drinks during the event to prevent “hitting the wall.”

Proper training for a strenuous event not only includes proper diet, but proper exercises and even a proper mindset. Training is a total body process, at the end of which athletes find themselves transformed into runners prepared to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of a marathon.

While a marathon may seem a bit unrelatable, all of us can identify with gearing ourselves up for some form of physical activity. Maybe it’s walking the dog at 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning.  Or joining a water aerobics class or walking club at the local gym. Research shows that the best strategies to use for pushing through the difficulties of exercise involve distraction. Something small like glancing at the sunrise, listening to enjoyable music, or hearing a cheering crowd during a race offers just enough distraction to help the athlete’s brain ignore pain without causing a loss of focus.

As followers of Jesus, we sometimes experience the painful sensations of doubt, disappointment, and sacrifice that accompany our walk with Christ. When He asks us to “take up our cross,” it’s sometimes tempting to turn to Him  and ask, “Do I really have to?” In these moments of difficulty and discouragement, we can offer one another positive distractions that help us endure the pain without losing our focus. We can remind one another to lift our eyes upward to Jesus.  We can share an encouraging hymn, praise song, or passage of Scripture that holds a particular meaning. We can cheer one another on through fellowship and prayer. How many times have we found renewed strength through the kindness and encouragement of a faithful friend?

In addition to these distractions, scientists have also concluded that positive self-talk and visualizations help athletes avoid “hitting the wall.” If an athlete can picture themselves overcoming difficulty before an event occurs, they are more likely to do it in the moment. As someone who watches baseball, I notice this phenomenon all the time. While the camera zooms in on the pitcher, alone on the mound, I often notice him talking to himself. It may look silly, but for a salary of millions of dollars, you’ll do just about anything to help yourself be successful!

As Christians, we can do the same through speaking Truth to ourselves and visualizing the Lord accompanying us in our struggles. The Psalms encourage us repeatedly to praise and remember. If your present circumstances appear hopeless, praise the Lord for what He has done in the past. Remember His faithfulness in different chapters of your life. Remember the heroes of the faith, who all had their faults and difficulties, too.  And most of all, remember that you have Jesus, a high priest who can sympathize with you (Hebrews 4:15). If you find yourself feeling alone on the pitcher’s mound, remember the beautiful promise of Jesus in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”  Fix your eyes, visualize on Christ coming to meet you – the One who shares your yoke, helps you carry your cross, and is cheering you on to your finish line!

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