READ: ISAIAH 40:28-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 9:23-27; HEBREWS 12:1-3

What’s the number one thing you need to win a race? Speed, right? It seems obvious. So why isn’t that what Hebrews 12:1 says? In this passage, the author of Hebrews is encouraging the audience to run the race of faith, but the verse doesn’t say, “run with speed.” It says, “run with endurance.”

This caught my attention. Honestly, I’d rather run a race with speed. I would like to be done running as quickly as possible and make it to the good part— the finish line! That’s the whole point of a race, right?

Apparently, that’s not how God sees it. He’s not interested in making us rush to the finish line as quickly as possible. No, His way is a lot less glamorous. God doesn’t call us to effortlessly grow in our faith by sudden leaps and bounds, accomplishing amazing things for His kingdom constantly—without any mess or stress or trouble. Rather, He calls us to endure. Day in, day out, faithfully following Him one step at a time. And while this will certainly include incredible growth and amazing accomplishments, these moments may be fewer and farther between than we might like. But that doesn’t mean we’re doing it wrong.

Endurance may be messy and boring and mundane, but any athlete will tell you that it’s the most important part. Skills and speed are useless if we don’t have the endurance to use them.

So, how do we run the race with endurance? By daily relying on Jesus, who ran the race perfectly before us, and who empowers us to keep running even when our own energy is totally spent. His love spurs us onward as we rely on His strength. Hebrews 12:2 says He “endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Why? “Because of the joy awaiting him.” On the other side of endurance, there is everlasting joy. The joy of knowing and being known by Jesus, and seeing others know Him too. Friend, there is no sweeter joy than that. • Taylor Eising

• Running the race of faith includes things like resisting sin, growing in our knowledge of God through His Word and prayer, engaging in a church community, serving others, and helping people know Jesus. All of these things take endurance. We will hit bumps along the road, get exhausted, and be tempted to give up. In these moments, Jesus is right there with us, offering His strength, comfort, and rest. Which Bible passages can remind you of this truth? Who is a trusted Christian you could talk to during these times, such as a parent, pastor, youth leader, or friend?

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 63:1-5; MATTHEW 11:28-30; JOHN 4:7-15; 7:37-39

Not much farther, Mai chanted to herself. Not much farther. Brittle sand attacked her eyes, blinding her, but she was so dehydrated they weren’t even watering. She’d sweat until her dusty and crusty robes were caked to her skin. Her utterly dry throat hurt when she swallowed, and the air she breathed only scratched her sand-filled nose. Water. Not much farther.

The sandstorm refused to relent, its billows wrapping around her, pushing her this way and that. But she kept her eyes narrowed on the bluish glow on the horizon—her oasis. In a hoarse voice, the wind ushered her toward the blurry hope, “This way. Water has sprung up from the world, and it is good. It will save you.” Mai obliged. Not much farther. It was close, she had to be getting closer. But with every step, the haven seemed to float away.

“No, it’s that way!” the wind howled in outrage. A blustery current of sand made her swirl around to see a pool that was just behind her. She pulled off her gloves. Now she was so close, if she reached out her hands she could—Mai heaved a sigh of relief. Water. She reached farther so her elbows soaked in the coolness.

“Drink. The water from this world is good,” the wind murmured in her ear. She could feel the wind’s presence looming over her, weighed down by the sand and particles it carried. She leaned forward so her lips were a mere breath away from the surface of the pool, and hesitated. Will it really be enough? Mai shook the doubt away and plunged her face in.

The cool water ran down her cheeks as she scooped more into her palms to sip from. Each mouthful of water left her desperate for more. The water travelled down to her empty stomach where she felt it sloshing like acid burning a hole within her. It was salty; her mouth was still parched even full of it, and she couldn’t help choking at the taste.

The blustery wind died down completely, and the heat of the sun settled afresh on Mai’s back. She blinked. The oasis in front of her seemed to waver. She shook her head, and it disappeared into the sand. Mai was again alone in the desert, feeling as dry and parched and weary as the land itself. Her throat burned from the salt water that did nothing to cure her dehydration. She tried to journey on, but each step had her wavering, and there was nowhere else to go. The horizons were void of all signs of life.

“Mai,” a voice sang from behind her, as smooth and sweet as honey itself. She turned to see a figure swathed in robes like the ocean. He held a chalice out to her. “Come, have a drink.”

Deep longing and desire for just a sip of water soared through her, but she said, “No. The water from this world is poisoned. I’ve already tried.”

The man beckoned her closer. “Only the water I give will quench your heavy and labored soul. What I give you is life—it is not as this world gives. Come.”

Slowly, Mai approached him, dizzy and lightheaded. His hand steadied her as she reached out for him, and the life-giving water he offered. Mai took the chalice. The moment the water touched her chapped lips, and the first trickle of water slipped down her throat, she was anew. • Zoe Brickner

• In this allegorical story, the wind is like Satan’s lies and the misleading voices all around us that promise hope and renewal. But when we look to created things for what only the Creator can give, we always come up empty-handed. Can you think of a time you got something you really wanted, but it didn’t end up being as satisfying as you thought it would be?

• Unlike all the world’s offerings, Jesus gives us “living water” that not only satisfies us but sustains us— this water is the Holy Spirit, which He gives freely to everyone who puts their trust in Him. John 4 tells the story of a Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus at...

READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

The sudden screeching from the children had me running down the stairs. I’d only left for a moment, but in that time the littlest kid in the house had taken the wrong bite out of her snack, and now the bigger kids were fearfully yelling for me. They met me with the choking toddler. I grabbed her, but inside I froze. I had had all the training on how to handle this situation. I knew my best bet was the Heimlich maneuver. But she was so little, and it had been years, would I be able to remember?

I grabbed her and flipped her facing away from me, getting ready to squeeze her abdomen. “Jesus, help me!” I exclaimed, loud enough for everyone else to hear. I gave the toddler a tight squeeze. The kids around me were whimpering, watching to see what would happen. Another rough squeeze, and onto the floor fell the too-big bite she had taken, and then she took a deep breath and started hollering. I took a deep breath too, the relief setting in. Within a few moments, everyone was crying tears of joy. We sat in a circle, hugging for a very long time.

“Jesus helped you!” one of the kids said. I sat there amazed that my exclamation had resonated with any of them in such a short time. There I was, quickly crying out for help in a tough spot with no time to spare, and in the end that was what these kids remembered the most about the whole experience. In a moment when I needed to remember a skill, and I was second-guessing my own ability, I knew who to turn to. I hadn’t even realized it would be an opportunity to be an example for others, showing them where to start in a frightening situation.

I should get used to Jesus being there for me, but I never do. Every time I cry out for help, He hears me and comes to my aid. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can call on Him in every situation, big or small, and He will always be there to guide and support us. • Abbi Bloem

• In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul says, “pray continually.” Sometimes a quick request is all we have time for, especially in an emergency, and God loves to answer these prayers. He also invites us to set aside longer periods of time to talk to Him. He may not answer how we expect Him to, but as we talk to Him about the situations in our everyday lives, it becomes our habit to turn to Him. Then, when we’re faced with an emergency, it’s only natural that the first place we’ll go is to Jesus. Consider taking some time to talk to Him about whatever is on your mind today.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NIV)