Who cares how we started? That’s what I want to say.

No, this isn’t the normal way I start a blog, but today I’m in a fighting mood. Why? Because there are so many of us girls out there who are weary, worn out, beaten down, and ready to give up. And I’m ready to fight for us all.

I’ve been there. I know the struggles. I know the dark places. I know the desperation.

I know what it feels like to feel lost and alone. Even in a sea of people. And so many of our real life struggles stem from not feeling good enough. We’ve heard it. We’ve believed it. Now we’re living it.

We just can’t get it right. Relationships. Family. Work. Diets. Money. God.

What’s the point of trying anymore? Maybe we fell again into our pit of desire. Maybe we can’t pay our bills. Maybe he left and we’re carrying the shame, guilt and embarrassment. Maybe it’s something else and we’re afraid of what others are thinking.

Look at the mess of our life! This isn’t what we signed up for. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

But here’s the truth, girls: It doesn’t matter where we are. It doesn’t matter where we’ve been. What matters is how we will finish.

Real life is like a 10 round fight in a boxing ring. We may make some mistakes early on. We may move left when we should have swung right. We’re going to take some jabs. We’re going to get knocked down a time or two. But when those early rounds are over, we’re smarter. We’re wiser. We’re better prepared for the next round. Until the final bell sounds, we still have time to fight the good fight. We still have time to fight to win.

Real life is like a marathon 26.2 mile race. We may get a slow start. We may have an injury from the past that keeps flaring up. We will get tired and feel like we can’t go another foot, much less another mile. But as we keep pressing on mile after mile, we get into a rhythm. Our pace quickens and we realize that physically we can do so much more. The battle is in our mind. Will we give in and walk? Will we give up and stop? Or will we persevere to the end and taste the sweetness of victory when we run across the finish line with arms held high?

Whether our analogy for real life is boxing or running or something else, the bottom line is that we won’t be able to pull off a real life victory without commitment and effort. But each day as we train, we get stronger. Each day as we turn to God’s Word, our souls are nourished with life-giving truth. Each day as we walk our journey with sisters in Christ, we’re strengthened by encouragement and support. Each day as we get on our knees and pour out our weaknesses to God, He fills us to overflowing with His strength. His power. His Holy Spirit. And in the process, He chips away the hard edges of our old life.

When we trust in God to train us and sustain us, He will transform us from the inside out. We will never be the same again. And we will rise above real life to victory.

So who cares how we started? Who cares where we started? It doesn’t even matter where we are today. The question is: Where are we going from here?

How will you finish?

Finish strong. Finish with God by your side. Finish the fight with sisters in your corner. Finish the race with sisters cheering you on. Finish so you can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” That’s what matters.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

May I pray?

Father God, oh how hard it is sometimes to think about finishing strong. Or finishing at all. We’re sinking in our circumstances. We’re stained by our past. And we don’t see how we can turn things around. But Lord, You can. You can take our broken pieces and put them together again in a beautiful new picture. Help us to persevere. Forgive us when we doubt You. Thank You for Your faithfulness to us. For if we’ll fight the good fight to the end, if we’ll finish the race and run to You, our faith will be a strong tower that will never be shaken. And through You, we will never be the same again. Amen.

Q4U: How can I be praying for you today?