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)

READ: GENESIS 2:9; 3:1-7, 22-24; DEUTERONOMY 21:22-23; 1 PETER 2:21-25

The American poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. once wrote, “In fact, there’s nothing that keeps its youth, so far as I know, but a tree and truth.” Truth is eternal, and the long life of trees gives them the appearance of eternality. Perhaps it is not surprising then, that our ultimate source of truth in this world, the Bible, contains the running theme of trees throughout its pages.

In the beginning, God places two trees in the Garden of Eden with the first humans. One tree represents their faith and obedience to God, and it leads to life. The other represents their disobedience and their choice to seize power and knowledge apart from God, and it leads to death. Sadly, they choose the second tree, plunging all of humanity into exile from God’s life-giving presence and under the inescapable curse of death.

As the biblical narrative progresses, people choose to reject God over and over again. Even God’s people, the Israelites, choose their own version of the second tree—doing what is right in their own eyes rather than trusting and obeying God. And every time, it ends in death and destruction. But despite humanity’s faithlessness, God provides a path of repentance and restoration back to Himself (Jeremiah 3:12-15).

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became human and took upon Himself our curse of death by dying on a cross, fashioned from a tree. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” In His death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed “the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14) and gave us participation in His divine life. So all who trust in Jesus will have restored access to the tree of life in the world to come (Revelation 22:1-4). As we wait for His return, trees are a living testament to Christ’s sacrifice and His victorious resurrection, pointing us forward to the eternal life we have in Him. • Kayla Esguerra

• We all face the temptation to think and act in ways that make sense to us but would be in opposition to trusting and obeying God’s Word. Can you think of a few examples? When you face choices like these, who are trusted Christians you can be honest with about your questions and struggles—people who will help you dig into Scripture, pray with you and for you, and encourage you to confess your sins to Jesus and rest in His great love and forgiveness?

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. “By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (CSB)

READ: EPHESIANS 6:10-20; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8; JAMES 5:16

We see bad things happen all the time. We can’t help it; trouble is all around, and people are suffering. Maybe something hard is affecting your family right now, or your friends, or your community. Do you feel helpless when you see the sorrow and pain of those you care about? It often feels like there is nothing we can do. Sometimes people say, “The situation is hopeless. I guess all we can do is pray.” That makes it sound like prayer is the last resort, something we settle for because we can’t do any real work to make things better.

But the exact opposite is true! Prayer is actually a super powerful weapon! And when we pray—behind the scenes, under-cover—it’s like we are God’s Special Forces, called upon to wield the weapons of our warfare for good.

God has placed each of us right where He means for us to be, to affect real change and make real things happen, from a posture of prayer. When we pray, we are joining our Savior, Jesus, who is always interceding before the throne of God the Father (Romans 8:34). It’s not like we’re going in solo. No, we are joining His team—a team that He is working through every day to make a difference in the world.

It’s actually kind of fun. Here’s how it works: Where you see darkness, you pray in the light of Christ. Where you see captivity to sin, you pray for freedom and newness of life. Where you see rebellion, you pray for God’s Holy Spirit to open minds and soften hearts.

This is God’s heart for the world. He loves us, and He is eager to work on our behalf. What a joy it is to join His team! We get to pray for His will to be done, as a part of His Special Forces, under the cover of light. • Kristen Merrill

• Prayer is one of the most powerful things a Christian can do. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we get to approach the almighty God of the whole universe and pour out our hearts before Him. We get to join in the work He is doing to bring healing and wholeness to broken places in our world. What are some ways you can spend intentional time in prayer this week, both by yourself and with other believers?

Therefore, he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 (CSB)

READ: JEREMIAH 29:1-14; PSALMS 37:1-6; 139:1-24

Are you or someone you know graduating this year? While a graduation is a momentous occasion, what follows is the question: “What are your next steps?”

When I graduated from high school, it was the general expectation that you went to college. Being an adventurous non-planner, I left for a college that was located over twelve hours from home, not even sure what I wanted to do, but assuming I would figure it out along the way.

You might be like me, or you might be more like my son. He just finished high school with the ultimate plan. He’s interning at a tech company while setting up his own business. His life is well-planned, from his first vehicle to his finances.

Often, I wrestled with being “in God’s will.” What was He trying to tell me? What if I didn’t listen hard enough? What if I missed the grand plan He had for my life? Other people might wrestle with inviting God into their plan. What if He calls me to do something other than what I want? What if He calls me to do something or go somewhere I feel unqualified for? What if God’s five-year plan doesn’t mesh with the plan I have laid out?

If you’re wrestling with questions like these, I have good news. Whatever type of graduate you are or will be, I can tell you the best next steps you can take in your life! Before you think I’m presumptuous, or even nuts, read Jeremiah 29:11-13, emphasis on verse 13. Did you catch what God said? “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Seeking God is your best next step, and the step after that, and the one to follow.

Many people refer to Jeremiah 29:11, and the hope and future God promises us. But then they forget to include the surrounding verses, where God tells His people they are not going to be delivered from exile for a long time, but His people will seek Him and pray to Him, and He will listen and be found. It’s easy to worry about our plans and God’s will. But what is the will of God? For us to have a relationship with Him through trusting in Jesus, to know His love more and more deeply, and to be transformed to become more and more like Jesus. Every plan of our hearts, every question about our future—everything pales in comparison to seeking the one who created us and knows every intimate detail about our past, present, and future. • Savannah Coleman

• Do you tend to be more of a planner, or a non-planner? How could you be intentional about seeking God in His Word, through prayer, and with fellow Christians?

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

READ: EZEKIEL 36:16-38; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8

Which is better: a heart of stone, or a heart of flesh? To be honest, some days I want to choose the stone. A heart of stone doesn’t feel pain, and it doesn’t have to bend to anyone else’s will. It seems strong and immovable, impervious to hardship and unchanged by anything it comes up against. But the truth is, a heart of stone is basically useless. Stone can’t pump blood or sustain life. A heart of flesh serves the body, nourishing and strengthening it with freshly oxygenated blood. A heart of stone serves nothing, nourishes nothing, and strengthens nothing.

In Ezekiel 36, God calls out Israel’s sin—their idolatry, injustice, and stubborn refusal to follow His commands. But He also promises to cleanse them of their sin. He says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (verse 25-27). In ancient Hebrew, the word translated here as heart refers to more than one’s feelings. It refers to all of one’s internal life—thoughts, feelings, desires, and decision-making. All of these take place in the heart. So having a heart of flesh doesn’t necessarily mean we have a lot of feelings—though that can certainly happen. It means our thoughts, feelings, desires, and decision-making have been cleansed and forgiven and made alive by the Holy Spirit so we can put our faith in God and place our confidence and hope in Him. Then we can be moldable, humble, teachable, and willing to let ourselves be fully shaped by God and His good ways.

Having a heart of flesh feels risky. It requires opening ourselves up to pain. Jesus knows what that’s like. Jesus, God the Son, allowed all His desires, thoughts, feelings, and decisions to be shaped completely by God the Father, even when it led to the cross. We betrayed Him, and He still kept His heart soft because of His great love for us.

Jesus will never betray me, but other people have. And when Jesus tells me to love them anyway, it helps to watch Him do it first. I can walk forward with a living, soft, obedient, easily bruised heart because I’ve seen Jesus do it. And if we know Jesus, His Spirit lives in us, and He’s given us a heart of flesh so we can respond to His love. And that is way better than any stone. • Taylor Eising

• How can looking at Jesus help us live from the heart of flesh He has given us?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 1:1-14; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20; REVELATION 21:1-6

In my life, there are many starts and stops. I start a new hobby, and I finish a TV show. I wake up and start my workday, and I end the day by going to bed. At the start of my life, I came into being. And eventually my days on this broken earth will end.

In the last book of the Bible, Jesus calls Himself “the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:6). This name signifies the completeness of God. Alpha and Omega are actually just the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These Greek letters work like a metaphor here. It’s similar to saying you sang the alphabet from A to Z.

Jesus was there at the beginning, before time began, and He played an important role in creation. John 1:3 says that everything was made through Jesus.

Jesus is also the end of all things. He is the end to sin and suffering. Jesus ended the power of sin and death in His own death and resurrection. And Jesus will be there at the end of time to bring justice down and right the wrongs of the world.

It’s important to remember that Jesus is God the Son, and when He calls Himself the Alpha and the Omega, He is helping us better understand who He is. God does not have a beginning, or a starting point. God has always been. Similarly, God does not have an end. God is eternal, and in Jesus, we can share that eternal life in His new creation. • Naomi Zylstra

• When Jesus returns and makes all things new, everyone who has put their trust in Him will live with Him forever! As we experience the many starts and stops of life, how could it be comforting to look forward to eternal life with Jesus, when sin and brokenness will finally come to an end?

• Are you starting something new? How have you seen Jesus present with you in this new beginning? Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to help you see how He is working in and around you.

• Endings can be sad, scary, and difficult, but Jesus is always Lord, and He rules over every beginning and every end. How can this truth give us hope when we experience endings?

This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.” Isaiah 44:6 (NLT)