Have you ever heard of the TikTok trend, “We listen, and we don’t judge”? In the game, people share secrets or confessions without fear of criticism or judgment. Let’s play. I’ll go first. I’m not a sports fan and don’t regularly follow any specific sport. I did not watch any of the 2026 Olympics. Zero. Zilch. Nada. That said, I appreciate the discipline required to develop the conditioning needed to compete on the world stage. I can name some famous medal-winning athletes (though most have faded from my memory over the years). Despite a lifetime of dedicated training, how many Olympic champions’ names are remembered? The glory fades. How does one train for the race that has an eternal crown?
HALL OF FAITH: THE BIGGEST HITTERS
What does it mean to live in Christ? We aren’t conditioning our bodies for a few competitions held over two weeks to earn a medal that will end up in a display case. Instead, we are training in godliness and growing in living for Christ. This carries eternal significance. Hebrews contains an entire chapter known as the “Hall of Faith”. It lists individuals who trusted God’s promises despite difficult circumstances. Their faith is presented as an inspiration. It cheers us on as we also endure hardship and suffering in our struggle against sin.
RUN TO GET THE PRIZE
Hardship and suffering are not punishment. They are purposeful training used by God to develop perseverance and character in us.Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
JESUS KEPT IN THE RACE
Remember Jesus’ example. He endured a brutal, undeserved beating. He was so maltreated and tortured that Isaiah says He was barely recognizable as a man (Isaiah 52:14). Somehow, He kept walking, literally carrying His cross to the place where He would be physically killed. He collapsed under that weight, and a man named Simon was called upon to carry it the rest of the way (Matthew 27:30-32). Simon bore only a portion of the weight Jesus carried for us. Christ endured bearing the sins of the world so we can spend eternity with Him. I can’t imagine that the experience didn’t change Simon. He saw the Treasure of Eternity hidden in a dark place.
TREASURE FOUND IN DARK PLACES
So, it is with us. Training in godliness often happens in the very moments we would rather avoid. Job loss, difficult relationships, illness, crushing grief, and anything that strips away the illusion of our strength being enough. All of this shows our need for a Savior. This is the place where God forms our character. That is the treasure hidden in darkness. Every experience, even one we would never choose, is an opportunity for us to encounter Jesus. It can develop a more Godly character. And sometimes our struggle becomes the moment someone else encounters Christ.
CLOUD OF WITNESSES CHEERING US ON
I may not follow sports, but the image of the race sticks with me. One day, we will all appear before Christ. He will judge how we ran the race of life (2 Corinthians 5:10). Olympic athletes train for years for a moment of glory that eventually fades. God invites us into something far greater. He calls us to run the race of faith—training in godliness, persevering through hardship, and fixing our eyes on Christ. As Hebrews reminds us, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and as Paul urges, we run with purpose. The prize before us isn’t a medal placed in a display case, but a crown that will last forever.
Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him. (James 1:12).