AMAZING G-RACE
[9-minute read]
Hitting the wall is an idiom for describing a point when we encounter a barrier that halts progress where further advancement is not possible. In life, we hit the wall when we face the hard moments that test our ability to persevere. The only way to avoid hitting the wall is to move in repetitive circles that makes no progress. In trying too hard to avoid pain or failure, we also avoid growth: we may never crash, but we also don’t evolve or improve either.
Long-distance cyclists and marathon runners are familiar with the ‘wall effect’ that describes the toughest part of the race. It is when their body’s store of energy gets depleted, their legs feel like lead, and their muscles start to cramp. But all serious athletes will prepare for the ‘wall effect’ and the physical and mental battle entailed in any race.
The reality is that the path of life necessarily involves challenges, failures, and painful truths. And we are not exempt from the same realities in our Christian walk. We will experience hurts and disappointments, discouragements and despair, yet through it all, God’s grace sustains us, showing us that our lives will not be a story of brokenness if we do not give up at ‘the wall’.
We are all in a race – not one we compete and compare with each other – but one that keeps us on the path of fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives. The apostle Paul urged all believers to go for broke, run to win the eternal prize! He further asserted, “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NLT). Don’t just go through the motions of life and relationships.
Whether we are ministers or just living a life of faithfulness to God, our ability to persevere will be tested. Leaders and friends will let us down when they should support us. People will care more about what we can do for them than about how we are doing. Our dreams will be hijacked by corporate ambitions and personal vendettas. And then there are rigid internal mental models, coping mechanisms and relational habits that are resistant to change.
What will keep you going when you hit your ‘wall’?
Jesus was unequivocably clear about what fueled Him. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” (John 4:34).
Sharing from her life, Pastor Beatrice shared five areas of focus that have sustained her through the ups and downs of life for over 40 years:
FOCUS ON GOD AND NOT GOALS
Clear task goals are important so that we know what we invest our time in and attention to. However, we must be clear that serving God should be the ultimate purpose in all we do so we know fulfilling His purpose is the only measure of success - not in how many things we do.
Sometimes it is hard to tell when something is done to check the boxes of self-interest, or if we are really answering God’s call. Self-serving interests can be couched in softer and more spiritual language to conceal questionable decisions and actions. The evidence is the lack of personal transformation.
Yet, the Bible tells us that “since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2a, NLT). Today, we hear common refrain among more mature people about ‘slowing down’, or ‘I’m not chasing after things’ as a reason to stop living life with momentum and zest. They say they have stopped chasing goals yet every day, they are ruled by rigid routines, and their schedules are filled with self-indulgent pastimes.
There is a huge difference when we shift our focus from goals to God. We will find it unsettling to go through life just passing time. We will get up and spring into action doing things we have never done before. We will surprise ourselves by taking steps to improve relationships instead of tolerating unacceptable behaviour.
Our journey with God will look very different when it is centred on God’s call. The demands of life will shrink, our resistance to inward change will weaken, and our response to success will look different.
FOCUS ON GRACE NOT GLOAT
Success looks very different to those living out God’s call. They recognize that what elevates and empowers them is the grace of God, so there is nothing to gloat over. While responsible for diligently applying their best resources to God’s call, they also recognize God in the details of what they do – His direction, warnings, delays and course corrections. All success is built on rich lessons that teach us about God.
Therefore, it is imperative to have the right perspective of success so that we don’t become obsessed with it. To Christians, success means to accomplish what God has planned and purposed for us. There’re few more accomplished than Paul yet he said, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24).
To be equipped for God’s call requires an openness to nurturing our heart, mind, and soul. We must stop saying that we are not ready yet and see that the only way to graduate into a more solid faith is to step out of inertia.
FOCUS ON GUIDES NOT GUARDS
Faith does not rely on what we can see before we step out of our comfort zones. If all we focus on are safety guardrails in life – we will be living on a standstill for a long time. When we are fixated on guards, we will not want to take any new steps that involve risks. We will replay familiar routines over and over trying to invent new purpose in them.
On the other hand, if we learn to look out for God’s signposts, we will find His guidance and direction every step of the way. We will be compelled to keep up with Him, instead of keeping up the appearance of being in motion.
Paul was always guided by a force beyond his intelligence. He was always conscious about staying in step with the Holy Spirit. Acts 20:22-23 captures it so powerfully, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”
Paul never let his ‘need to know’ or preference for certainty block him from experiencing the realities and miracles on the other side of risks!
FOCUS ON GLADNESS NOT GROUCHINESS
When we recognize God in our realities, we will see how the inchoate events converge into a coherent story. As author David Brooks wrote, “You can only know what to do next only if you know what story you are a part of. And you can endure present pains only if you can see them as part of a story that will yield future benefits.”
If we recognise God’s grace, we will have countless stories of His grace beyond divorce and desertion. If we recognise God’s Hand, we will see His fingerprints in so many places. If God’s presence is the touchstone in our lives, we will find His accompaniment every day. We will be glad for the things and the people God puts in our lives and we will put our hearts in the right places.
That’s why it is so important to know what story we are in. Then we will be able to say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7).
FOCUS ON GRATITUDE NOT GREED
It’s hard for many of us to understand that grandiose and lofty ambitions are not necessarily the way to fulfill God’s call. When we look at people with great potential and talent, we conclude that they should be out there doing big things that impact many people. And some of us draw the same conclusions for ourselves. But when there is delay in the ‘big things’ happening, we wonder who is to blame.
When greed takes over, we want bigger, better, more visibility. We will not settle for a job that does not look like a promotion from the previous job. We want our names on everything we put our hands on to do. We want only to lead and not be one of the followers. It is easy to be seduced by some level of recognition because we can quickly forget that we are fulfilling God’s purpose, and not ministry or whatever it is we think is so important that we exclude everything else.
In fact, the lack of generosity is a tell-tale sign that gratitude is not fully developed in our hearts. We may think that we are grateful to God, but if we are not generous towards people, that gratefulness has no meaning. Gratitude compels us to pass on the grace and goodness we have received.
Proverbs 3:27-28 tells us, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” - when you already have it with you.”
This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 8 November 2025.
