Posted on by jwlozano

Grace for the Race

Last week, I wrote about running our own race and staying focused on the path God has marked out for us. But during that same 10K race, something happened that stayed with me long after I crossed the finish line.

As I was running, I saw a woman walking in the opposite direction, crying.

I don’t know her story. Maybe she got hurt. Maybe she realized the distance was more than she expected. I truly don’t know the details, and this is in no way meant to shame her.

But seeing her walk away from the course made me think about how easy it can be in life to feel like turning around and giving up.

Sometimes life feels overwhelming. Sometimes we hit seasons where we think, “I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

Maybe it’s your finances.
Maybe it’s your marriage.
Maybe it’s parenting, ministry, work, or just the weight of life itself.

Paul encouraged believers over and over again to keep going. In Galatians 6:9 he writes:

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

I love that verse because it acknowledges something important:
Sometimes you will feel tired.

But tired doesn’t always mean it’s time to quit.

One thing I love about races is that all throughout the course there are water stations. And it always amazes me how they seem to appear at exactly the right moment, right when you feel like you really need one.

When you’re running, stopping briefly at a water station doesn’t mean you failed the race. It doesn’t mean you quit. It simply means you needed to refresh yourself so you could keep going.

And I think Jesus is that for us.

Jesus said:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Sometimes what we need is not to give up.
Sometimes we simply need rest.
We need to pause, regroup, pray, worship, breathe, and spend time in the presence of God.

The goal isn’t to push ourselves until we completely fall apart. The goal is to stay in the race.

2 Peter 1:3 reminds us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. That means whatever season we are facing, God will provide the strength, grace, wisdom, and endurance we need to keep moving forward.

So if you’re tired, rest.
If you’re weary, go to Jesus.
If you’re discouraged, pause at the water station.

But don’t give up mid-race.

Posted on by jwlozano

When Stillness Feels Hard

Just a few minutes ago, I finished one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

In 2021, I ran my first, and possibly only, marathon. If you don’t know, a marathon is 26.2 miles, and it was very hard. In 2024, I released a book that I worked on for three years. For half of that time, I didn’t even have a laptop and had to write on my phone. That was hard too.

But the hard thing I just did was something that has always been difficult for me, and still is. I sat in silence for five minutes.

Silence is really hard for me. I like to talk. I like noise. I’m one of those people who has the TV on all day, even if it’s just a screensaver. Most of the time I’m listening to something, a podcast, a teaching message, or music. I just don’t really like silence.

But I’m working on incorporating times of silence with the Lord every day.

I have no problem spending time in His Word. I have no problem watching encouraging messages. I have no problem singing worship, writing, or journaling. But to just sit still, be quiet, and do nothing is so hard for me.

And yet, we see so many examples in Scripture where Jesus went off to a solitary place, an isolated place, to be alone. To sit with God.

That’s what I’m learning right now. To sit with Him. Not always asking Him for things, or telling Him about my day, or processing all my thoughts out loud. But just sitting and listening, being open to anything He might want to say.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I’m in a season where I’m coming out of a lot of movement and a lot of activity. And now, that movement is intentionally slowing down.

There’s a line from the Sound of Music where a character says that “activity suggests a life filled with purpose.” And I think that’s how I’ve lived for a long time, always moving, always doing, always filling the space.

But I’m learning something new.

I’m learning that stillness is not wasted. That quiet is not empty. That stepping back does not mean losing purpose.

Sometimes, the most faithful thing you can do is stop.

There are situations and seasons you cannot plan your way out of. No matter how much you think, organize, or prepare, it won’t be enough.

And in those moments, the invitation is simple.

Be still.
And know that He is God.

Be still, and wait for His instruction.