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SERVE WITH FAITHFULNESS

One of the toughest things I’ve done is run a 5K. I’m not a runner—at all—but my pastor convinced me to join him and some teens for a Thanksgiving race. Now, for some of you, a 5K might be easy, but for me? It was rough. My feet hurt, my legs ached, and I wanted to quit so many times. But I didn’t stop. Why? Because I wanted to prove to myself that I could finish—and I wanted to know I had given my best.

That determination kept me going. Every time I wanted to quit, I remembered why I started.

Our verse today, Revelation 2:10, is part of a letter to a church going through extreme hardships. The believers in Smyrna were poor, persecuted, even killed for following Jesus. Most of us would want to escape that kind of suffering, but Jesus told them something completely different: “Don’t be afraid of what you’re about to suffer. Be faithful, even to the point of death.”

That’s a hard ask, but Jesus gave them a reason: the promise of eternal life. He reminded them to hold on, not to the pain, but to the reward—to live with Him forever.

Life is tough, and faith can be shaken. Temptations, trials, and distractions pull us away from God. But I want to encourage you: focus on the end goal. Remember eternity with our Creator. The pain and struggles we face are temporary, but what waits for us is eternal.

So, when life gets hard or temptation tries to drag you down, keep your eyes on the finish line. Don’t give up. Like the 5K I ran, the struggle is real, but the reward is worth it.