Life is Not a Sprint, But a Marathon

We've watched children grow up in our ministry and seldom do we pick their brains to discover the state of their  Christian walk. Our Genesis Bible Fellowship Youth and Young Adults (Gen. B.FY) have written some devotionals that give us a glimpse of their thought processes when life hits. Saints, be encouraged by the living Word and their lived experiences and please encourage our Gen. B.FY.

Overworking is a common factor for a college student, but as a Music Composition Major I have more than just homework and classes. Some of my daily work involves practicing piano, listening to hour-long pieces, writing about those pieces, piano lessons, composition lessons, writing music, listening back to what I wrote, throwing away what I wrote because I didn’t like it, and reading supplemental material for my major.

Beside the academic work, I still have to be an active artist who focuses on creating and editing my website, proofreading old music I’ve written, emailing professors for work opportunities, applying for commissions, applying for music festivals, emailing professional connections to stay in touch, playing in other students’ recitals/juries/auditions, playing in my own recitals, mixing/mastering/releasing my recorded music, and performing in ensembles. Having said this, some students manage to do all of these things and live very social lives, have a lot of success, and may even have great grades. But the toll I’ve seen it take on students is overwhelming and honestly depressing.

I personally know many students who have immense knowledge in their field and put in impressive work for their grades so they pull all-nighters in order to submit an assignment that might not have as much relevance in the industry outside of academia. I also know students who work tirelessly on their own music, constantly apply for gigs, and tour all around Massachusetts, but have had to take a year off for academic probation because they couldn’t focus on school. In either case, both students are pursuing success, but at unhealthy rates. In the short term, it may feel satisfactory and efficient because they’re accomplishing what they set out to do in short bursts (I’m guilty of doing both). However, in the long run it takes a serious toll on not only their bodies but their mental, psychological, and spiritual health.

I’m no fool to think that I won’t have to do both when I’m in a pinch once I enter the industry post-graduation; but my journey toward success (however anyone may describe success) isn’t a sprint, but a marathon. We often think that if we take every last-minute opportunity, if we make thousands of connections now, or if we decide to maximize every hour without resting, that we’ll be further ahead of the game. We’re all so afraid to lose.

Life isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. The Lord only needs that we continue running our race and run in His will and what He has already planned for you will be for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). During our marathon of life, there are obstacles, hurdles, others running besides us, burst of energy and sheer exhaustion, but God places checkpoints of blessings along the way to show you that your efforts, your labor is not in vain. Those checkpoints may come after weeks, months, years, or decades, but they’ll be there. He will reveal them to you, for no good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11 ).

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You so much for keeping me in the race thus far. Forgive me Lord for all the times I tried to move faster than You and let me rest in the knowledge that all You need is that I keep running. Please give me the wisdom, patience, and joy to run my race at the pace that is just right for me. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.
By Sis. Chloe Smith