Run with endurance🏃‍♀️

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This a passage quoted often. Truly. We think of a literal race and what it takes to get through it. It’s not easy. That’s why we have to lay aside sin and distractions. That’s why we look to Jesus our example.

But something that clicked with me this past time I read Hebrews 12 was actually a few verse down. 

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I’ve always read the first two verses of Hebrews 12 as, we have to run the race of endurance due to sin and suffering in the world, strictly as a consequence to life, in a negative effect.

But after reading the following verses, I then realized that often times we are enduring things based on the fact that God is chasing us, disciplining us and refining us into better Christians as we walk with him. 

It’s not always a punishment for something we did, but rather just the way of him molding us into who he wants us to be! Sometimes it’s just trials we go through to better our Christian walk, so we don’t get too comfortable and stumble alone!

Since I’ve come to see this, it’s allowed me to change the way that I look at trials in my own life. It’s not always because of a sin I committed or a consequence of others treatment towards me. 

Instead it’s something, God has allowed to happen in my life, to chasten me, grow me, discipline and mold me into a legitimate daughter of the king HE wants me to be.💡

It’s been like a whole lightbulb momentum as I really grasp and comprehend what God is truly doing in my life. And not only that but I’m able to see it in a POSITIVE LIGHT. 

He chastens those who are HIS. He disciplines those HE loves. Will it be painful yes, but will it yield peaceful fruit of righteousness, yes!

He is working and we don’t even have to know what He’s doing, but if we’re having trials, and we’re enduring than we know He loves us. ❤️

I hope this brings you some encouragement today!

Xoxo, Shantel