The Hard Miles: Pushing Through When It Gets Difficult
A Running Devotional
Every runner encounters the hard miles. They're running and it feels good. But then, somewhere in the middle of the run, something shifts. Their legs get heavy. Their breathing gets harder. The mental chatter starts: "Why am I doing this? This is hard. I could stop. I should stop."
These are the hard miles. They're not the beginning (which is still fresh) or the end (which is in sight). They're the middle, where the initial enthusiasm has worn off but the finish line isn't visible yet. And they're where real runners are made.
Beginners often stop during the hard miles. They walk. They turn back. They quit. But runners who push through the hard miles discover something: the difficulty is temporary. If you keep running, your body adjusts. Your breathing normalizes. Your legs feel lighter. The hard miles pass, and you're back to running strong.
The hard miles aren't a sign you should quit. They're a sign you're growing.
Spiritually, this is vital understanding.
Following Jesus has hard miles. The initial excitement of new faith wears off. Daily disciplines feel boring. Obedience gets costly. Temptations intensify. The mental chatter starts: "Why am I doing this? This is hard. I could stop. I should stop. Nobody's really following Jesus this seriously anyway."
These are your hard miles spiritually. And they're where real disciples are made. The ones who push through the hard miles become strong. The ones who stop don't.
Hebrews 12:1-3 says: "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. 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Endure opposition. Don't lose heart during the hard miles.
Romans 5:3-4 says: "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Suffering produces character. The hard miles produce strength.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 says: "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs—they want to please their commanding officer."
Push through. The hard miles are where soldiers become strong.
Proverbs 24:10 says: "If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!"
Don't falter in the hard miles. That's when you get strong.
Tomorrow's Practice: Identify the hard miles in your current spiritual journey. Where are you tempted to quit? Where's the difficulty wearing on you? This week, push through one hard mile. Don't walk away from the discipline, the obedience, the commitment. Push through. Experience how the difficulty is temporary and the growth is permanent.
Reflection Question: Do you push through the hard spiritual miles, or do you quit when discipleship gets difficult?