As my two children, Joel and Sara, have become adults, I have been delighted to watch them take on endurance challenges. Both have run full (26.2-mile) marathons. Joel now has his sights set on doing an Iron Man: a 2.5-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. Joel has undoubtedly been spurred on by his wife, Erin, who completed an Iron Man last year. It took her 13 hours and 20 minutes of concentrated exertion. That’s endurance.

Though few of us will ever do an Iron Man, not many good things in life are achieved without endurance. When I was in high school, I underwent a spiritual awakening, and became a born-again Christian. I was no longer the kid who simply went through the motions of church; I was now committed. However, I was not suddenly a wellspring of deep spirituality. I found myself confused—struggling with questions and beset by temptation. I remember thinking how much easier it must be for older, more mature Christians to live spiritual lives. It’s a good thing I didn’t know the truth about the endurance required; I might have given up on the spot.

The reality is this: no one remains a Christian easily. A person who is serious about Christian commitment faces constant challenges—not the least of which is simply the temptation to spiritual laziness. Remaining a Christian for life is a serious endurance challenge.

The importance of endurance is a theme that runs throughout the New Testament book of Hebrews. Notice this sampling of excerpts from the early part of the letter:

• “We must pay more careful attention . . . so that we do not drift away” (2:2).
• Jesus was “made . . . perfect through suffering” (2:10).
• “He is able to help those who are being tempted” (2:18).
• “See to it . . . that none of you . . . turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily” (3:12-13).
• Don’t be “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (3:13).
•  “Hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first” (3:14).
• “Let us . . . make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall” (4:11).
• “Therefore, since we have a great high priest . . . let us hold firmly to the faith we profess” (4:14).
• “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (4:16).

Those exhortations come from just the first third of the letter. There is much more to follow.

I have gradually discovered in the decades following high school that being a Christian does not get easier as one gets older. In some ways it gets harder, but it also gets better. A deepening relationship with God does not render all temptations powerless, nor does it provide answers to all questions. But there is value—indeed, there is often incredible joy—in the struggle.

No one forces my kids to run marathons, and they are paid nothing for their efforts. The months of preparation are grueling. On race day it is not uncommon for runners to become ill from dehydration or overexertion. It may take several days to recover. Pain is simply accepted as normal.

Why do otherwise reasonable people do this? My kids would have to answer for themselves, but this I do know: Humans are created in such a way that endurance is a deeply rewarding experience for us. It’s in our DNA. If God had chosen to remove all challenges from a Christian’s life, He would have taken away the best parts of it.

Near the end of his letter to the Hebrews, the apostle had this to say:

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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, . . . who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame. . . Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons (Hebrews 12:1-7).

When things are tough, Christians will sometimes question whether God really cares. The letter to the Hebrews provides a clear answer: A wise human father does not protect his children from every pitfall. He knows that challenges build character. He also knows that the process of meeting those challenges is richly rewarding. When we face challenges as Christians—when we must endure, and sometimes just keep on enduring—we may be sure that God is treating us as His dearly loved children.

B.W.

  Addendum: On Sunday, June 1, 2008, Joel Williams completed the Boise, Idaho "Half Iron Man" (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1 mile run) in 5 hours, 22 minutes. Erin, who is pregnant, cheered him on. He continues to set his sights on a full Iron Man competition, possibly next summer.