May 2
Running the Race
Together
“So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air.”
1 Corinthians 9:26, NIrV
Henry and Scarlett sat on opposite ends of the couch, scrolling through their phones in silence. The TV flickered in the background, but neither was paying attention. What happened to the nights filled with laughter, conversation, and dreams about their future? Their relationship had become a series of routines—functional but empty.
Scarlett broke the silence. “Do you feel like we’re just... existing?” she asked hesitantly.
Henry paused, guilt creeping in. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I don’t know when it changed, but I feel it too.”
Their lives had become like a race with no clear finish line, motions without purpose. Frustrated and unsure where to start, Scarlett suggested seeing a relationship counselor. Henry hesitated but reluctantly agreed.
Their first session was uncomfortable. The counselor asked pointed questions that made them confront their patterns of neglect and avoidance. “Relationships take intentional effort,” the counselor said. “You can’t drift through and expect growth. What are you running toward together?”
The question lingered in Henry’s mind. That evening, he prayed for the first time in months. “God, I’ve been coasting, in my relationship and with You. Help me run this race with purpose, for Scarlett and for us.”
Over the next few months, Henry and Scarlett committed to change. They scheduled weekly date nights, went for walks to talk about their hopes and struggles, and even joined a couples’ Bible study to rebuild their spiritual foundation. Scarlett began journaling her prayers, and Henry started reading devotionals each morning.
One evening, as they danced in the kitchen to their favorite song, Scarlett smiled. “We’re not perfect, but we’re moving forward,” she said.
Henry nodded, his heart full. “We’re running toward something now—together.”
They had learned that a relationship without intentionality was like fighting aimlessly, like a boxer swinging at air. With God’s help, they began running their race with purpose, hand in hand.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for being the ultimate guide in every area of our lives, including our relationships.
Like Henry and Scarlett, we sometimes find ourselves drifting, running without direction.
Help us to be intentional in our actions and in our love for others.
Teach us to seek You in our struggles and to trust You as we move forward.
May we run with purpose and fight for what matters most, always keeping our eyes on the finish line You’ve set before us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
