KEEP GOING

Life can feel like a marathon, not a sprint. There are moments when the road seems too long, the hills too steep, and the obstacles too heavy to overcome. You might be tempted to slow down, to pull over, or even to stop altogether.

In those moments of exhaustion or discouragement, Scripture offers us a powerful encouragement to hold onto: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

The Christian life is not about running aimlessly or in competition with others. God has marked out a unique course for each of us. Your path may look different from mine—your challenges, your blessings, your pace—but the same grace sustains us all.

The “great cloud of witnesses” are those who have already finished their race—the saints, the faithful, our ancestors in faith—who now cheer us on from heaven. Their lives remind us that it can be done, that God’s grace truly is enough.

But before we can run freely, we must throw off everything that hinders. Think about a runner trying to compete while carrying heavy bags or tangled in ropes—it would be impossible. In the same way, there are weights in our lives that hold us back. Sometimes they’re obvious: sinful habits, distractions, or unhealthy attachments. Other times, they’re hidden: fear, guilt, resentment, or self-doubt.

Scripture invites us to release them and run with perseverance, continuing when it’s not easy and holding onto hope when we can’t yet see the finish line. Perseverance doesn’t mean we never stumble—it means we rise again after we fall, trusting that even in our weakness, God’s strength carries us forward.

So today, whatever stage of the race you’re in—beginning, middle, or nearing the end—keep moving forward with faith. When you feel weighed down, give your burdens to Him. When your legs feel weak, let His Spirit renew your strength. When your heart grows weary, look up to the “cloud of witnesses” and know that you are not alone.

Run your race. Run it with faith. Run it with joy. Run it with perseverance. And when you cross that line, may you hear those beautiful words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
November 20, 2025