During the 1992 Olympics, Derrick Redmond from Great Britain tore a hamstring muscle halfway through his 400 meter race. Rather than giving up, he continued down the track, limping and leaning on his father for support, until he crossed the finish line. Although he did not win a medal as he hoped, he became an Olympic icon for perseverance.

Hebrews 12:1 calls believers to

“lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…”

We are not promised that the race will be easy. We are not promised that we will not fall or get hurt in the process of running.

But God has promised that to those who finish well, despite the hardships and trials, He will reward and welcome into His rest with the commendation, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Our faithfulness as believers is not evaluated by the great things that we accomplish in our lives for Christ.  Our faithfulness will be judged in how we persevered in the little things that God has called us to every day.