The Work of the Spirit
I’m standing at the start line of a high school girls’ varsity cross-country race on a chilly morning, and I can feel the nervous energy as the athletes complete their last-minute race preparation. Everyone seems especially nervous as they feel the pressure to perform well enough to qualify for nationals. As their coach, what else can I tell them? We’ve already gone over everything: keep your stride open and relaxed, keep your head up, shoulders back, and your breathing under control.
“Just one more thing…” I say, turning to walk away. “If you do well today, remember—God is so good. If you don’t do as well as you hoped today, remember—God is so good. I’ll see you at the mile mark.”
One of my favorite cross-country workouts involves having athletes run without watches. It ensures that no distance, times, or splits are tracked or seen. Nothing is analyzed. This stands in contrast to a world where performance is constantly monitored, data is analyzed, and training plans are built to optimize results. Everything becomes about performance. Are you feeling this way? The pressure can be immense.
If we search for fulfillment in perfect times, scores, or stats, we will never meet the standard we strive for. We will fall short. In the same way, we must place our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and the Lord of our lives. He alone met the standard we could never attain. Through Him, we are given the gift of eternal life, freed from the law, and given the Holy Spirit as our source of strength.
The Christian life isn’t about trying harder—it’s about walking daily with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 reminds us that when we walk by the Spirit, He begins to transform us from the inside out, changing our desires and loosening the grip of performance on our hearts. And the beauty is, we’re not doing this alone. Deuteronomy 31:8 assures us that God goes before us and remains with us, just like stepping to the start line of a race knowing the course has already been prepared. Even in the hardest moments—when the race feels overwhelming or we feel like we’re falling short—Isaiah 43:2 reminds us that God is with us through it all. As we walk with Him daily, the Spirit faithfully transforms not only how we perform, but how we think, respond, and live.
Athletes who focus entirely on performance and statistics will eventually burn out. But those who begin to find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ—and their strength in the Holy Spirit rather than in performance—learn how to have a healthy love for their sport, even on difficult days. God desires that we pursue Him daily and love Him more each day. He has given us eternal freedom through His Son, Jesus Christ, for all who believe, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to help, guide, and convict us.
Something powerful happens when we focus on pursuing and loving God daily: our desire to live in sin begins to fade. We find ourselves remembering, on both the good days and the hard days—God is so good.
Discussion Questions
Where do you feel the most pressure to perform in your life right now, and how is that affecting your mindset or identity?
What would it practically look like for you to find your fulfillment in Jesus instead of your performance—especially on both good days and hard days?
How can you remind yourself of God’s goodness in the middle of competition, success, or disappointment?