Finishing the Race

Bible Reading: Romans 8:18-25

Aiden stared at the trees on the way home from school. It was still warm out, but some of the leaves had begun to change. His trance was broken when they turned down his street.

“Can I skip the meet tomorrow, Mom?” asked Aiden.

“What! Why?” replied Mom.

“I get nervous before every race, and it makes me feel sick to my stomach,” said Aiden. “It’s the last race. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal.”

“Aiden, I know it’s tough, but it’s important that you run tomorrow. You’re part of the cross country team. Just pace yourself, and focus on the finish line and how it will feel good to cross it.”

The next day, Aiden took deep breaths as he stretched before the big Middle School Cross Country Classic. His nerves haunted him all the way up until he was at the starting line.

BANG! The runners took off. Aiden cruised through the course but remained in the middle of the pack. His nerves disappeared as he jogged the 3.1 miles. He made it to the last turn, barreled down the final stretch, and crossed the finish line.

He put his hands on his hips and walked through the grass with a big smile on his face. His head spun, but he didn’t care. He was so happy to be done with cross country.

“You did it!” shouted Aiden’s mom, giving him a hug. “Are you relieved?”

“Very!” Aiden replied.

“You know, this reminds me of the lesson we learned in church last week,” Mom said. “The pastor read from Romans 8, remember? It tells us that life will be hard. We will go through trials and sufferings, but no matter how hard it is, it’s nothing compared to our reward in Jesus. One day He will give us new, perfect bodies and we will live with Him forever. When we face difficulties in life, we can look forward to the glory of knowing Jesus and trust Him to help us through them.”

Aiden pictured Jesus waiting for him as he crossed life’s finish line, and his smile grew even bigger. Rafe Bellers

How About You?

Are you facing something hard in your life right now? We live in a broken world, and everyone goes through trials. Things like divorce, loss of a loved one, or problems at school can be painful and disheartening. But don’t give up. Keep your eyes on the finish line. Jesus is with you, and one day He will return again, and His glorious presence will be better than anything we have ever experienced.

Today’s Key Verse:
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus is at Life’s finish line