Take It One Step at a Time

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” — Hebrews 12:1–2

I enjoy running, and I’ve been doing it on and off for most of my adult life. One year, I decided to challenge myself by signing up for a half-marathon. I trained for 12 weeks to make sure I’d be ready on race day.

When the day finally came, I was nervous, but ready. I lined up at the starting point, and when they said “go,” I took off toward the 13.1-mile finish line.

Mile 1 felt good. Mile 2 felt amazing. Mile 3 brought a sense of accomplishment. But by Mile 7, it felt like my legs had turned into cement blocks. That’s when I knew it was time to push.

Even after all that training, I still had to dig deep and rely on something more than preparation to finish what I’d started. With each step, especially when it got hard, I kept repeating to myself: “You’ve got this. Just put one foot in front of the other. One step at a time.”

Life is a lot like that. We can plan and prepare, and some days will feel light and full of momentum. Other days, it will feel like we’re dragging ourselves forward. And on those days, we have to lean on God’s strength, breathe deeply, and take the next step forward.

I finished the race that day. And I was proud, not because I ran perfectly, but because I didn’t quit when it got hard.

My prayer is that you’ll do the same. Run your race. Keep showing up. And when it’s hard, just take the next step.

Reflection: The next time you feel overwhelmed by life’s pace, pause. Breathe. Then focus on the next step in front of you, and trust God to meet you there.

This is an entry from my devotional: KEEP GOING: 30 Devotionals That Encourage You To Keep Going Every Day. Get your paperback copy here or download the ebook here.