On running your race - and cheering others

As I begin 2026, one of the things I have added back into my life is a prayer journal. A few minutes each day sitting with God and dwelling in the word. A great time to sit and reflect on myself and the world around me. The journal I have gives prompts for writing each day. There is a prompt for what I am thankful for, and a prompt for what I want to pray for. There is also a section where you dive into scripture and see how it is speaking to you in the moment.

Recently this brought me to the book of Hebrews. I read portions of chapters 11 and 12. One verse hit me like a brick. Maybe it’s because it was Monday. Maybe it’s because it was a tough day. Maybe it’s because it’s the start of a new year. Either way, it’s exactly what I needed to hear. 

The verse I am referring to is chapter 12, verse 1.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

This really got me thinking. It brought up lots of questions. How am I doing in this race? Am I running my race? Is the race running me? All too often I think that we try to run a race not destined for us. We perceive that those around us are doing more than we are. They are succeeding more than we are. They are blessed more than we are.

More often than not, that’s just not true. We don’t need to base our worth and our value on the people around us. If we have to reach high unattainable standards to be part of a certain circle, then maybe that group of people isn’t for us.

The people in your life should be cheering on the race you are running. They should be excited for the accomplishments you make, not judge how those accomplishments stack up to others. 

It’s on us to be that way for others too. There will be times we don’t know what life is throwing at our friends, but we should work to be that cheerleader. We should be the ones reminding them that they’re doing great in the race that they’re in.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what race you are running. What matters is that you are running your race. It’s not up to you to run the race for your friends and neighbors. They can do that on their own. What they need from you is a person to remind them that they are doing a great job, even if they aren’t seeing the finish line. We don’t know how long the race will be, so be happy in the moment of what you have accomplished.

Run that race, run it at your pace, and run it for you.