{Faith & Fitness}: Run the Race

Over the last couple weeks I've been brainstorming ideas of what my next Faith & Fitness post would be.  Should I give some tips on exercise? Or food intake? Or both? I've been mulling it over in my mind making mental notes here and there when I would think of something that I thought would work. And then Monday happened. The 117th Boston Marathon.

A day where thousands of people set out to accomplish one of their greatest goals in one of the world's best known marathons. An event held every year on Patriots' Day which commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. An event inspired by the first successful modern-day marathon held in the 1896 Summer Olympics. An event where people fly in from all over the country to race. An event that I can only imagine leaves you feeling accomplished and with the greatest sense of joy and pride because you finished it! You did it! You ran the most well known marathon. 

But this year, instead of feeling joy and pride, people were literally brought to their knees, knocked off their feet, trampled on, stripped of their joy, and most couldn't even finish the race.... Instead, they were left with fear, chaos, uncertainty.... and some lost their limbs, lost their lives, or lost a friend or family member.  All in a senseless act. It's heartbreaking. 

I mean, can you imagine? You are in the zone, listening to your iPod, thinking, "I'm almost there. I'm almost finished! I'm about to make a huge check mark on my bucket list." And then, as you near the finish line, you see total, complete chaos. Or you're on the sidelines, cheering on your friends and family members and then suddenly there is a loud explosion, people shrieking, crying, blood everywhere. It makes me sick. 

All I can think is, "what is this world coming to?!" So, so many senseless acts over the last year (and more). We are heartbroken and disgusted and can't believe it, but we mustn't be surprised. In John 10:10 it tells us that "the thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy." Y'all, the enemy is real.

But what are we going to do about it? What can we do about it? We support. We trust in God. And we exercise our spiritual fitness. 

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD." 1 John 4:4

We don't retreat. We don't withdraw. We don't stand around and watch. We HOPE in the Lord and give hope to our friends and family, particularly in the running community. We get out and exercise and PRAY while we do it. We don't just say we will pray.... we actually pray. We wake up and put on the full armor of God. We let the Word be living and active in our lives. We trust in the Lord with all our hearts. AND WE RUN THE RACE. We don't stop.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24

So get out there and run the race, because there's still a race to be run. We help where we can and be a light in this dark, dark world. And while you're at it, do some good. And be intentional.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

To see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness series}, go here.

About the Author: Jessica Vick Lewis is a Worthy of the Prize volleyball coach. She was the assistant volleyball coach at Martin High School for 5 years and the assistant volleyball coach at Seguin High School  for 1 year, before she began "staying home" with her boys full-time. Check out her Advocare site for all of your health and wellness needs and follow her family blog to see what her and her boys are up to! Jessica is married to S, a Construction Manager, and they have 3 little boys...c, e and n.