I was recently reading a report of God’s powerful work among Muslim communities of Southeast Asia, and I had a flashback to my church planting days in Japan. Back then, I’d hear of missionaries in other countries handing out 100 Bible study invitations and 20 people would come. But in Japan we’d hand out literally 10,000 tracts and only two people would respond. Two! I remember thinking “why doesn’t the Spirit come over here and do a little work?”

Slow progress, unresponsive hearts, unwelcome challenges make it tough to go on. The writer of Hebrews knew this and offers God’s view of things. Watch the flow of thought in Hebrews 11-12.

In Hebrews 11 we have the great list of faith in action. We come to verses 32-35 and it looks like a day in the life of “The Incredibles.” God shows up in the midst of their need and they see incredible victories! But without missing a beat the writer transitions to life on the “B team,” those who didn’t enjoy such success (36-38).

The writer then lumps these two groups together in verse 39. But what connects them? They are both commended through their faith. Faith in the miraculous and victorious, faith in the face of persecution and death. Faith during the abundant outpouring of the Spirit, faith during the hard years of sowing with little reaping.

How do we endure during those lean years? The writer gives a number of insights in chapter 12 but let’s focus on verse 1b. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Embrace YOUR race, the one which God has set before you. Not your teammates, not your friends working in another area, not your successful friends back home.

Many of us are no longer on plan A. For various reasons, we’re now on plan B or C or even G. You may be in the same place doing the same thing for years. Or you may find yourself in a new place or role you didn’t imagine or aspire to. But this is where you are and this is the race you need to embrace.

The caution is that if you don’t embrace YOUR race, if you fight against it and strive to be somewhere or someone else, you will not endure as God wants you to endure. In John 21:20-22 Peter asks Jesus about John. “What about this guy? What about his race?” Christ’s answer? “What is that to you? You follow me!”

Stop and think about where you are in terms of embracing YOUR race. On a scale of 1-10, where would you mark yourself right now? To what extent have you embraced what God has directed you into or allowed into your life? What is one thing that you can do before Christmas to move that point up one more notch?

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