Even if I showed up at a marathon with no excess baggage and properly focused, I would still give up long before the finish line. Why? If I want to complete a marathon, I must be willing to undergo training. In fact, I must cooperate with a very extensive training program. I will need to be willing to let an experienced runner design a whole training regimen that would seem in many ways irrelevant to the race. That would be Jesus Christ – the ultimate trainer.

Taking my own physique and physical shape into account, he would design exercises carefully calculated to produce pressure and strain on various muscle groups. By cooperating with this frustrating and sometimes agonizing training program, I would gradually become hammered into shape for a marathon. The biggest reason why people are unable to run marathons is not because they are physically incapable of it, but because they are unwilling to undergo the necessary training.

Brethren, now that we have entered the promised land, the race we are running will not be any easier. The training was difficult before – and we have endured. Our muscles are stronger, our endurance has increased but the training does not stop there. God is committed to hammering each of us into shape to run his race. And to that end he has a training program designed for each of us individually. He knows exactly what roles we are designed to play in his race; he knows exactly what qualities are lacking in our lives which we will need in order to finish; he knows exactly the right amount of stress and strain to put on us to develop those qualities. He calls this training program "discipline" and he is constantly doing just this through all sorts of suffering which he sovereignly allows us to experience.

What do we do when God disciplines us in our training program? Do we cave in and threaten to quit because of the pain. Do we envy and resent others who are not suffering like I am. Do we complain that this suffering is hindering rather than helping my ability to serve God. Do we accuse God of neglecting me or being too rough on me? Some of us have reacted to pain as the ultimate evil for so long that we have virtually no capacity to take it.

Remember why God disciplines us. Discipline is painful now but its reward comes later. It wouldn't be discipline if it was easy to take. God wants to transform our characters so we can fulfill his purpose for our lives. Remember your response to discipline is the key to its effectiveness in your life. Only those who submit to the training reap the benefit.

God has the ability to engineer circumstances to fit His plan. He takes events of our lives and constructs something useful out of them. He works for good in our lives if we trust Him to do it. Romans 8:28 clearly states that God causes all things to work for good in the lives of those who trust His guidance. Proverbs tells us that a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Jeremiah 29 declares,

I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

He has a future for you. He knows what is needed to give you a future. Where might God be engineering your circumstances today? Are you just trying to endure them and get through them or are you trying to escape them, or are you being encouraged spiritually to know that God is at work in your circumstances for your good and seeking opportunities to let those 'goodness' things come out of your life.

"He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us." "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." God never gives up on you. God has engineered circumstances to shape your character, to adjust your priorities, to purify your faith. James tells us that the testing of your faith develops the perseverance necessary for the developing of a mature Christian faith.

Remember most of all that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with you. He will guide, strengthen, comfort – He will never leave you." He will give you the strength to get through what you’re going through.

Don’t give up! Don’t quit! Everything’s gonna be alright!

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