I don't see much let-up for Paul

We all face hardships in our lives at one time or another.  But when they never seem to end, or when one ends only for another to come along soon after, we grow weary.  Worse, our faith may waver or weaken.

But for the apostle Paul, as far as what I can see in the New Testament, his hardships never let up.  Ever.  They lasted right until his earthly end.

So many Christians say they want to "finish well" or "finish strong" for God.  But what does that mean?  Did Paul finish well?  Did he finish strong?

He was martyred.  He was beheaded for his faith.  Is that the sort of "finish" you want for yourself? 

"Paul was different," you may assert.  How so?  Are we any less chosen than Paul?  Is God's call on us any less important just because we didn't write the New Testament?

Each of us is called by God - to follow Him, know Him, trust Him, obey Him - wherever He may lead.  As long as we are staying close to Him and obeying Him, then He will use us as mightily as He did Paul.  Perhaps not on the same scale, but just as mightily if we let Him.

But that may involve a different "finish" than we're hoping for. We American Christians have it so good, we don't really know what it's like to experience severe persecution.

Oh we've tasted it on some level if we're truly following Christ, to be sure.  But we aren't being put to death for our faith in this country.  Not yet, anyway.

The point is, we don't need to be concerned about how we finish out our faith walk if we are faithfully obeying Christ every step of the way.  If we're doing that, then we will finish well.  And none of us knows when our finish will be!  If God took you Home today, would you have finished how you wanted? 

A marathon runner can't see the finish line for hours.  Even if he or she tried to see it with all their might at mile 10, it ain't happening.

Now I've never run a marathon and never plan on running one.  Ever.  So I can only imagine what goes on in the runner's mind during such a torturous venture.  Maybe they have to imagine the finish line in order to keep going.  Or maybe they have to stay utterly focused on where they are in the moment.  Either way, they have an advantage that we don't.  They know the finish line is 26.2 miles up ahead.  We don't.

As long as we are running each "mile" of our lives connected to Jesus, listening, trusting, and obeying Him, doing our part, we will finish strong.  This is true whether or not we complete our "checklist" or goals this side of heaven.  

So when the heartache, trials, and tribulations just don't let up, and we're expecting for a "better" season only to be met with more of the same or worse, how do we keep going?  

Jesus is at the end of our life's finish line.  Jesus is the finish line. That is the only way I know how to keep going during tough times, by keeping my eyes on Jesus.  That doesn't mean I do this 24/7.  I lose focus.  A lot.  

But I stay in the race.  I just won't give up.  Jesus never gives up on me, and I want to please Him by finishing the life course He has for me.  Whether or not I leave unfinished work behind, that is up to Him.  Yes, Him.  Because as long as I'm obeying Him and not shrinking back, then I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm finishing strong.  God's got my "save the date" for my passage into the next life on His books.  He's had it there since when He created me, if not before.  

The trick is to overcome the unrelenting tests and trials.  I wish there were an easier way.  Some days, my feet are like the hind's feet climbing on the rocks effortlessly.  But not every day is a mountaintop experience.  And that's ok.

Paul must have had to battle discouragement like any of us.  But he kept going.  

Let's keep going forward with Jesus.  Every battle we've ever fought will be well worth it on the other side of our finish line!

Dear Lord, thank You that You are the goal.  Knowing You, obeying You, trusting You - when we do these consistently and never give up, we can rest assured that we will "finish well."  Thank You for knowing exactly how much hardship we need in order for You to refine us into Your image.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.