(February 07, 2025) Angeline Selvakumari encourages…

It was the 1986 Asian Games and the 800m final in Seoul was about to take place. The entire nation was on the edge of its seat, eagerly anticipating a nail-biting finish by Shiny Abraham, one of India’s finest athletes. Expectations soared as people hoped she would secure the gold medal.

When Shiny crossed the finish line first, the pride and joy felt by every Indian were indescribable. Cheers of jubilation echoed from households across the country. However, the euphoria was short-lived. Moments later, it was announced that Shiny had been disqualified for changing lanes too soon.

The nation’s collective excitement turned into a heartbreak. Shiny’s hard work, determination and relentless effort weren’t enough to secure the victory she deserved. It was a devastating blow— not just for Shiny but for every Indian who admired and believed in her. Even today, whenever I think of that moment, my heart aches for Shiny, an athlete I deeply respect and admire.   

Life is a race and God has designed a unique track for each of us… and we need to—

1. Run to Win!
Some are sprinters, others long-distance runners and some may even be steeplechase athletes, each requiring distinct skills and strategies. We cannot run someone else’s race because God has tailored each journey according to His divine plan.

Every type of race demands different levels of stamina, strategy and strength. A sprinter cannot easily transition to long-distance running, nor can a marathoner excel in sprints without immense effort and preparation. Similarly, God graciously equips us with ability to run the race He has set before us.

Let us run our race with perseverance, focusing not on the finish line of others but on the purpose God has uniquely crafted for us.

• If we choose to run a different type of race— whether because it’s popular, trendy, or appears to be a safe formula— we miss the essence of our purpose.
• In doing so, we cannot win the race that truly matters. The ultimate goal is to stay on the track God has set for us and win the prize He has promised.
• If we stray from our designated path and run on someone else’s track, even if we finish first, we still lose. The prize will not be ours.
• This is why scripture teaches: ‘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’ (1Corinthians 9:24).

2. Run Faithfully!
If we are to win the prize, we must run faithfully. Faithfulness is essential in every area of our lives— whether in our work, marriage, finances, relationships, or spiritual journey.

Do note that the race God has called us to run is not a simple sprint; it is a battle! Paul’s testament was ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’ (2Timothy 4:7). May we do likewise!

Each day, we engage in a spiritual battle against the ruler of this dark world, who is determined to thwart God’s purpose for our lives. His mission is clear: to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He seeks to test our faithfulness to our Creator, a strategy he began in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).

God calls us to be faithful because He is (Hebrews 10:23). When God makes a promise, He fulfills it. Even when it feels like your prayers remain unanswered for years, know that He hasn’t forgotten you. He is always faithful to us and will answer in His perfect timing.

‘I will never forget you’ comforts Isaiah 49:15GNB. Therefore, keep running your race, even when you cannot see evidence of His work. Faithfulness to our faithful God requires being steadfast! ‘Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer … Be faithful … and I will give you the crown of life’ (Revelation 2:10).

The race we are running is not easy— it resembles a steeplechase, filled with various obstacles like water jumps, open ditches and plain fences. Yet, we are called to keep running faithfully.

3. Run With Integrity!
If we hold on to our faith despite tribulations and challenges— whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial— we will receive the victor’s crown. We cannot afford to stop halfway through the race or turn back. Instead, we must persevere with integrity in our hearts and faith in our souls.

Faithfulness in our calling is essential, regardless of our current circumstances. Whatever God has entrusted to us— be it a great or small responsibility—  we must be faithful, even in a modest position. Be faithful when no one is watching, for God sees everything.

Work diligently. You may not be appreciated at your workplace— stay faithful. You may go unrecognised among your friends or family— stay faithful. You might feel insignificant in the eyes of your church community— stay faithful. God, the ultimate rewarder, sees your labour in secret and will reward you openly in His perfect timing.

A day will come when the Lord will say: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21).

I pray that God grants us the strength to stand firm in our integrity without compromising, regardless of the challenges we face. May we strive to be true ambassadors for Christ.

4. Run With Perseverance!
‘Let us run the race marked out for us with perseverance’ says Hebrews 12:1.

Perseverance, or endurance, is a crucial quality for any athlete… especially when the journey becomes difficult and thoughts come about giving up! Success requires dedication, discipline and a willingness to push oneself beyond comfort. It demands hard work, struggle, sweat, pain and even moments of disappointment.

Similarly, our Christian walk is not an easy path. We encounter struggles, face battles and endure challenges that test our faith. At times, it may feel lonely, as if we are walking a road others don’t understand. The inability to align or compromise with worldly values can leave us feeling like the odd one out.

These feelings are natural— but we must remember that this path, though narrow and challenging, leads to eternal joy and fulfillment. Let’s press on with unwavering determination, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

Great men of God experienced similar feelings. Elijah lamented, ‘I alone am left’ (1Kings 19:10NKJV). David often felt the weight of loneliness. Moses endured such moments. These feelings are not new to us. However, what empowers us to persevere in our race is the testimony of those who have gone before us (Hebrews 12:1). Their examples remind us that we cannot give up.

Though the journey may feel exhausting, we must press on. Help is always within reach. Some of us may be facing discouraging words, false accusations, misunderstandings, or an inner sense of despair, questioning ‘Why should I continue, Lord?’ Even so, we are called to run with perseverance.

No one desires isolation; we all long for inclusion. Yet, we must guard our hearts. When we choose friendship with the world, we risk becoming enemies of God (James 4:4). Therefore, we must remain vigilant in the race God has set before us. There is no room for compromise. Stay steadfast, for the reward is eternal.

5. Run Finishing Victoriously!
Paul’s example encourages us: ‘I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me’ (Acts 20:24). The ultimate goal of this race is not just to finish but to finish victoriously and claim the prize.

Dear friends, life is fleeting and only what we do for Jesus will endure. As we stand at the beginning of this year, it is time for self-reflection—

• Are you running the race God has set before you?
• Are you on the right track?
• Are you giving your all, running with perseverance despite distractions, setbacks and challenges that seek to hold you back?

If not, this is the perfect moment to recommit. Let us run with the determination to finish strong. Do not give up! God is faithful. He will never lead us to a place where His grace is insufficient.

The burden you carry feels overwhelming, too heavy, emotionally draining? Come before God and pour out your heart to Him saying, ‘Lord, I am struggling in this area. I cannot continue to run with this weight on my shoulders.’

Consider the example of King Hezekiah… read Isaiah 37. When he heard the mocking message of the advancing Assyrian king determined to take Judah— ‘Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured’ (37:10)— his heart was torn apart. He felt utterly helpless. Can you imagine the mental and emotional state of Hezekiah in that moment? Yet, in his despair, he turned to God, his true source of strength.

• Going to the temple, he humbled himself before God sharing his troubles with Him (v15-20NLT).
• Pouring out his heart he sought divine guidance: ‘O Lord our God, rescue us from his power.’
• And God did rescue Hezekiah… destroying the enemy (v33-36)!

Likewise, we are encouraged to bring our problems, failures and disappointments to God. When we do, He will assist us in overcoming blockages, encouraging us to keep trusting and running on to finish victoriously!

Dear men and women of God, are you weary of staying faithful in your ministry? Are you struggling to persevere? Don’t give up! Now is not the time to quit. Rise up and keep running until He tells you to stop, no matter what challenges we face!

6. Run not in Vain
Don’t run in vain: Paul writes in Galatians 2:2 about running well his God-given race of delivering good news ‘… lest by any means I might run … in vain.’

We must be careful to run the race God has set before us not wasting our efforts. Consider the lesson above from Shiny Abraham. Though finishing her race first, she missed the medal because of a small, seemingly innocent mistake. Sometimes, we may be hardworking, dedicated and faithful, yet still fail to win the prize. Why? Because we may overlook what God truly wants from us. We might miss understanding the specific race He has designed for us to run.

Let’s take time to seek His will, discern His purpose and download the message He has uniquely prepared for our lives. Only then can we run with purpose and finish the race victoriously.

2Samuel 18 tells of Joab fighting King David’s battle against his son Absalom. Although David had explicitly commanded that no harm should come to his son, Absalom was killed and the tragic news needed to be sensitively delivered to David.

Two runners volunteered to carry the message. Joab chose one, a Cushite, directing him to report what he had witnessed. He began running, but the other, Ahimaaz, insisted on joining. Being the faster runner he overtook the Cushite and reached the king first.

David, waiting with great anticipation, eagerly asked about the outcome of the battle. However, Ahimaaz, despite his speed and effort, admitted he did not know the full details: ‘I saw a great confusion … but I don’t know what it was’ (2Samuel 18:29).  He had no meaningful message to deliver, even though he had run tirelessly, with great dedication and perseverance!

In contrast, the Cushite, though slower, fulfilled his responsibility as a messenger. When he arrived, he conveyed the message with clarity and sensitivity. In response to David’s question, he said, ‘May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man (v32). Without directly stating it, the Cushite tactfully informed David of Absalom’s death.

• The comparison between Ahimaaz and the Cushite is striking. Ahimaaz was a better runner but a poor messenger because he lacked the most critical element—  a message.
• A messenger’s first responsibility is to deliver the correct message, no matter how eloquently it is presented.
• As we reflect on this passage, let’s heed its lesson: Don’t run like Ahimaaz!

My dear brothers and sisters, may we run not just with speed and effort but with purpose and clarity. Let’s run to win victoriously!

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Pastor Angeline Selvakumari is Honourary Editor–in–Chief Echo of His Call, India’s Spiritual Newspaper, and Dr S Sam Selva Raj’s daughter. In furthering Echo of His Call ministries, established 1969, Dr Sam broadcasts 5–minute YouTube messages in English, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu daily, trusting the Lord to provide for the costs. Link: sam@echoofhiscall.org 
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