Success rarely comes without hard work, but work hard and you’ll reap the rewards of it. Athletes train day in and day out to accomplish success on the field or on the court. Career professionals study several years in order to graduate and be successful in a job. Just because people have become successful in their ventures does not mean they didn’t have to overcome obstacles along the way.

Athletes get exhausted or even injured in the training process, but those who are truly dedicated to the training will push through and fight harder. Students in school often get stressed out and bogged down with homework, but those who are truly dedicated to learning will push through the struggles to receive the reward of a diploma and the satisfaction of fulfilling a goal or finding a good job.

Likewise, walking with Christ is a life-long journey that’s not always glamorous. In fact, the Bible tells us that those who believe in Christ and follow Him will experience persecution and struggles along the way.

“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me” (John 15:20-21).

Even though we probably will face struggles throughout our journey with Christ, the reward that comes with living for God far outweighs the trials that one will face. Eternal life and all the blessings and provision and intimacy that come from the Lord cannot be experienced fully when one cuts out of the race. We should not quit or give up because things get hard. If everyone did that when times were difficult, no one would get anywhere in life. Those who are truly dedicated to following Christ will run harder in the race.

It’s hard to run the race alone. When struggles come, it’s a lot easier to quit when there is no a support system in place to encourage the person to press on. We weren’t meant to go though struggles or life alone. God made Eve so Adam would have a companion in life to share in his struggles and encourage him, and likewise, Adam was to do the same for Eve. Just like these two characters, we need people in our lives that will share in our joys and struggles and encourage us when we’re at our breaking point. As believers and followers of the same God, we are connected in Christ and should lift one another up. We need to be that voice of strength to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that we might rally one another to press on in the race towards the reward God has in store for His good and faithful servants.