– Philippians 3:14
While studies highlight the numerous mental and physical advantages of running, I’ve never really been one to run just for the enjoyment of it. Despite my appreciation for the sport, perhaps this explains my reluctance to sign up for marathons or similar running events. Running can already be a challenge, but some people make it even harder by adding extra resistance, such as hand weights, ankle weights, loaded backpacks, or weighted vests. Personally, I can’t imagine that being any more enjoyable. If you’ve experienced this, you know the difficulty; if not, you can likely grasp how much easier it would be to run without them. So, here is the crucial question: What is your weight? No, I’m not asking for a number in pounds or a physical measurement that might fluctuate with diet or exercise. Instead, what kind of emotional, spiritual, or psychological weight burdens your spirit, prevents your soul from soaring, and holds you back from embracing the full, vibrant life of freedom Christ secured for you on the cross? Is it the heavy anchor of guilt from past mistakes? The shame born of perceived failures? The crushing burden of unforgiveness, whether toward yourself or others? Or perhaps the crippling fear and anxiety you hold about the future?
While some people may appear to carry heavier burdens than others—perhaps a crushing addiction, the deep trauma of abuse, or the relentless pressure of financial distress—the truth is, we are all carrying some form of weight. No one is exempt from the human experience of struggle. Your weight might be a persistent, quiet cynicism, the burden of perfectionism, the expectation of a false image, or the subtle drain of resentment. The common thread is that any weight, regardless of its size or nature, hinders us. It slows our pace on the journey of faith, obscures our vision of God’s grace, and keeps us from experiencing the lightness and peace that is our inheritance in Christ. To “go the distance” in our spiritual walk, we must first honestly identify and consciously lay aside the specific weights that are keeping us grounded.
A personal weight struggle for me is the intense desire to protect my loved ones. I sometimes carry this responsibility to the point where it can become a self-imposed burden. While protection is certainly part of my calling as a husband, father, and brother in Christ, I must remember my limitations: I am finite and weak and can only be in one place at a time. God, however, is infinite, omnipresent, and all-powerful—He is the ultimate protector. I cannot take His place, but I can place my trust in Him. Essentially, my core weight issue is control. This need for control is the foundational source of all the various burdens that weigh us down. These burdens often appear as worry, anxiety, insecurity, shame, overscheduling, excessive productivity, pressure from expectations, comparison, and unhealthy relationships, among others. Some of these weights are self-imposed, while others are an unavoidable consequence of living in a world impacted by sin.
Shedding the Burden.
The author of the book of Hebrews, knowing how weights can hinder our walk with the Lord, wrote, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” – (Hebrews 12:1, ESV). This verse offers both a reflective recognition of our struggle and a powerful instruction. We are called to “lay aside every weight.” Imagine the relief of literally dropping a heavy backpack mid-race! Our spiritual race, the journey of faith that is meant to be run with perseverance, demands the same kind of decisive action against anything that slows us down or saps our strength. These weights aren’t necessarily sin (though sin is certainly included), but they are things that burden us and keep us from running with true endurance. The “weights” we carry can be things that are legitimate, even good, but which, when allowed to become excessive or ill-timed, act as hindrances. Distractions, worry, over-ambition, material attachments, or excessive commitments—these encumbrances become unnecessary baggage. They drain our strength and keep us from running the race with the required focus and “true endurance.” To ensure a strong finish, we must consistently and deliberately discard these self-imposed limits.
Fixing Our Gaze.
The writer of Hebrews then gives a solution to help us with our “weight problem.” He goes on to encourage them (and us), saying that we do this by “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – (Hebrews 12:2, ESV) This is the key to running the distance: fix your eyes on Jesus. He is not just our finish line; He is our pace-setter, our coach, and the ultimate example of endurance. Jesus understood the weight of the cross, the shame, and the ultimate sacrifice, yet He pressed on “for the joy that was set before him.” What was that joy? It was fulfilling the Father’s will and securing our redemption. When we face our anxieties and burdens, we look to Him, remembering that our struggles are temporary, and the eternal reward is certain.
The Exchange Rate.
Of course, this transformation won’t happen by chance; this will require some intentionality, accountability, and most importantly, prayer. Life is a marathon, and carrying unnecessary burdens makes the race significantly harder. So, friends, as we step into this new year, I invite you to join me in fixing our eyes on Jesus. He alone has the power to help us “shed” those weights. Even better, He offers to trade them for far superior gifts: His love, joy, and peace. Jesus himself extends this incredible offer: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV) The invitation is simple: trade your heavy burden for His light one. A yoke is meant to connect two oxen so they can share a load. When we take His yoke, we are yoked to Him. He takes the primary weight, and we learn to walk in step with His strength, not our own. The burden of control, worry, and fear is exchanged for His rest and peace.
Peace that Guards.
How do we practically make this exchange and ensure we don’t pick the weights back up? We shift our focus from the problem to the Protector. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” – (Philippians 4:6-8, NLT) This peace is not just a feeling; it is a sentinel, a guard posted around your mind and heart, protecting them from the onslaught of anxiety and fear. It comes as a direct result of casting our cares on the Lord through prayer and thanksgiving. When your thoughts are fixed on Him, trust takes root: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” – (Isaiah 26:3, NLT) This is the path to truly going the distance in your faith. It’s not about superhuman effort; it’s about divine reliance. It’s about letting go of what you can’t control and trusting the One who controls everything.
Finish Strong.
The race of faith is long, and the temptation to grow weary is real. But we are given an ultimate promise of sustainment: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” – (Psalm 55:22, NIV) Don’t just carry your weights; cast them. Throw them off your shoulders and onto the Lord. He won’t just hold them for a moment; He promises to sustain you (1 Cor. 1:8). Friends, if you feel heavy, anxious, or burdened, stop running with that extra load. Look to Jesus. He has already gone the distance, and He invites you to run your race with endurance, unburdened, and focused on the joy set before you. So, as we enter this new year, I invite you to drop the weights, take His light burden, and finish the race strong.
Drink from The Well 
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