Spiritual Lessons from Running a Marathon

By Jhumia Pile

Missionary & Aspiring Author

“For those of you who know, I just participated in a marathon in which I completed 26.2 miles. The journey before was exciting, tiring, and empowering. The actual marathon though was painful, yet powerful, and the recovery has been humbling. I recently shared my experience at the NAPS Friday night worship. The main lessons were:

1. Don’t give up

2. You Need People.

3. All Things Work Together for Good

“However, here was the biggest lesson of all: While on my way to sleep, I was reminded of the sweet scenes of the finish line and how thankful I was to have finally made it to the end of the painful, grueling journey. There were times during the marathon when I really wanted to give up. Often I wondered, ‘Why does this journey have to be so hard? So long (it seems)? Soooo painful?’ Right at the end of the last stretch, I was about to give up. I began cramping severely in both legs and despite constant prayer by my two friends who were helping me through the last 4 miles, the cramps were getting worse.

“Oh yes, I was about to give up. I wanted to cry. But my tears were dry from dehydration. One of my friends took me by the hand while the other encouraged me saying, ‘Come on Mia, Come on!’ I was exhausted and felt I had nothing left but I somehow (Jesus) kept moving. I think those brothers would have cut down some trees and made a gurney, rolled me on through the finish line if they had too. It reminded me of the story in the Bible of the paralytic and how his friends lowered him in through the roof to Jesus. These people represent the angels God puts to get us through the unbearable times.

“Finally, the finish line was in sight — but this amazed me! The “sweeper” had already passed me by. Time had technically finished, but the people were holding the line until we are were sealed and given medals for the journey. Victor (my husband) told me later that when he asked if they would close the finish line before all the people came (knowing that I was still out there, he had gone up ahead in the car to see what he could do), the people said, ‘No, they have gone through all this, paid their money. We are going to wait until everyone has come through the line!’

1. Do you need to do the same? What lessons did you learn from Jhuamia’s Story?

2. To learn more about Jhuamia’s work (or to donate) at the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation (NAPS), go to www.napsoc.org.