The Long Game

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Hebrews 6:10-12 — "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

What it is speaking to me:

The promises of God are often marathons, not sprints. I am not a runner by any definition of the word — but if I were going to be one, I would be a sprinter. Short, fast, quick, over almost before it begins. When it comes to the promises of God, I think we would all wish they came like sprints. Quickly answered, quickly delivered, little to no waiting time.

But the promises of God are often more like a marathon.

My brother ran a marathon once. It was long, it took a few hours, and in a way I will probably never fully understand, he enjoyed it. Anyone who does distance running knows that going that long takes discipline, hard work, and — you guessed it — patience.

Our Christian walk is not a sprint, but a marathon. Faith and patience are the fuel that keeps us moving. Without them, we manage a short burst and then wear out, sitting on the sidelines wondering what happened. With them, we can stay in the race long-term, finish strong, and inherit the promises God has given us.

But like any marathon, it takes hard work. We have to be active in our patience and deliberate in our faith — leaning into them, not just waiting passively for something to change. The promises are coming. Stay in the race.

What is it saying to you?

• What promises has God given you?

• Which has He answered or delivered?

• Which ones are you still waiting for?

• How do you stay patient while you wait?

• How do you keep your faith alive in the waiting?

What are we going to do about it?

Identify one promise you've been holding, then write one specific way you can remain faithful to it today.