The Endurance and Resilience of a Spiritual Marathon

Pastor Billy Stone

Bolton Street Baptist Church | November 1, 2026

Main Scripture: Hebrews 12:1–2

Introduction: Endurance and Resilience

Endurance and resilience are important parts of our spiritual lives. Throughout life, we encounter situations that require determination, perseverance, and the ability to continue moving forward.

As a young boy in fifth grade, I had a blind girl in my class named Patty. We would have mathematical flashcard contests, and when it was her turn, the teacher would read the equation aloud so she could hear it. Even without being able to see the flashcards, she would answer faster than anyone else in the class.

One day, I watched her walking down the hallway with her hand against the wall, counting her steps to find her next classroom. A teacher had left a projector screen cart in the hallway, and she walked into it and hit her head.

It hurt me to watch that happen. But she found her way around the cart and continued walking.

That was one of my first examples of determination, resilience, and endurance.

Years later, I met a military veteran through a man at our church who helped veterans experiencing difficulties.

The veteran had been injured during combat when a sniper's bullet grazed the top of his skull and another bullet struck his shoulder. He spent weeks in a coma and believed he was going to die.

But he survived.

He believed God had brought him back and saved him so that he could tell others how great God is and how He still performs miracles in people's lives.

These experiences are examples of resilience and the ability to continue after difficult circumstances.

The Christian life requires that same endurance as we run our spiritual marathon.

1. Jesus Christ Is Our Foundation

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Having Jesus Christ as our foundation is the most important part of building spiritual endurance.

We must have Jesus in our hearts and lives to understand true endurance and resilience in our spiritual marathon.

Having Christ gives us purpose in this life.

Some people are called to teach, some to preach, and others to raise families. Whatever our purpose may be, when we have God in our lives and worship Him, our work is never in vain.

Jesus must be first and foremost as our foundation.

2. Training for the Spiritual Marathon

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7–8 (KJV)

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

An important part of running a spiritual marathon is training and preparation.

Our spiritual training consists of walking daily with Jesus Christ. As we continue that walk, we grow and learn.

My wife, Joyce, used to run marathons. She would get up before the sun came out and spend hours training. Sometimes I could hear the treadmill running at 3:30 in the morning, and two hours later she would still be on it.

She once participated in a marathon at White Sands on a very hot day.

During the race, trained military personnel were carrying heavy backpacks, and some were collapsing or crawling across the finish line.

Joyce made it to mile 21 before collapsing in the sand. She was unable to finish that race.

Two years later, she added more prayer and worship to her training. She returned to the marathon and completed it.

Our spiritual lives also require training and preparation.

Physical exercise has its benefits, but godliness is profitable in this life and in the life to come.

Our earthly bodies are temporary. Those who have Christ in their lives have the promise of a glorified, imperishable body.

3. Stay Motivated and Persevere

Scripture: Job 42:12 (KJV)

So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning...

Another important part of building endurance is motivation.

Sometimes we must remember the expression, "No pain, no gain."

When we feel as though we cannot make it to the finish line, we should remember Job in the Old Testament.

Job loved God and feared God. He was a wealthy man who lost his livestock, his family, and nearly everything he had.

He suffered physically, and his wife told him to curse God and die.

But Job never lost his faith in God.

He did not blame God for his circumstances. He continued trusting Him through everything he experienced.

In Job 42:12, Scripture tells us that the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than his beginning.

Job endured his suffering while keeping God first and foremost in his life.

His example reminds us of the importance of remaining faithful and trusting God through difficult situations.

4. Have a Strong Heart and Love One Another

Scripture: John 15:9–13 (KJV)

John 15:9

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 15:11

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 15:12

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Building endurance and perseverance also requires having a strong heart.

We must love other people and have compassion for them.

As a church family, when someone is sick, hurting, or going through a difficult situation, we feel their pain.

When members of our church family suffer, it hurts all of us.

But when a family welcomes a new baby or experiences a blessing, we rejoice together.

We share in one another's struggles and blessings because we love and care for one another.

In John 15, Jesus teaches us to continue in His love and keep His commandments.

He tells us that His joy may remain in us and that our joy may be full.

Loving other people brings joy into our hearts.

Jesus also commands us to love one another as He has loved us.

This is crucial for our church family.

We must care for one another, pray for one another, and thank God for one another.

Loving others makes a healthy heart and a healthy soul.

5. Remember What Jesus Endured for Us

Scripture: Luke 22:63–65

Another important part of our spiritual training is having knowledge of Jesus Christ and understanding what He endured for us.

Jesus is our example of endurance.

In Luke 22:63–65, Scripture describes how Jesus was blindfolded, mocked, and struck in the face.

The men who beat Him demanded that He prophesy and identify who was hitting Him.

The physical suffering Jesus experienced was severe.

He lived a perfect life, healed blind people, healed those who could not walk, and helped others.

Yet He was falsely accused and allowed Himself to be beaten and mistreated.

He endured that suffering for us.

Even while being crucified, Jesus prayed for those responsible for His suffering, asking the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.

Jesus endured all of this for us.

Knowing and remembering what He experienced is priceless knowledge in our spiritual marathon.

When we are facing battles and struggling to reach the finish line, we should never forget what Jesus endured on our behalf.

6. Maintain a Healthy Spiritual Diet

Scripture: John 4:32–34 (KJV)

John 4:32

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

John 4:34

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Another part of preparing for the spiritual marathon is being aware of what we consume.

We need a healthy spiritual diet.

One way to do this is through a spiritual fast.

Turn off the television, put your phone in another room, and spend time reading the Bible.

Read the words of Jesus in the first four books of the New Testament.

How long has it been since you put your phone down for an hour and spent that time in God's Word?

A good spiritual diet consists of God's Word and caring for and loving others.

During a Sunday school class, we discussed a Christian event where protesters were reportedly taking Bibles from people, tearing out the pages, and chewing them up.

My first reaction was that if someone took my Bible, I would want to get it back.

But Brandon Larson offered a different response.

He said he would go get another Bible, take it out there, and make sure they had enough to eat.

That response has stayed with me.

Our church is called to feed people the Word of God.

We are to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.

In John 4, after Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, His disciples encouraged Him to eat.

Jesus told them that He had food they did not know about.

He explained that His food was to do the will of the One who sent Him and to finish His work.

Read the Gospel. Read the words of Jesus.

Feed yourself with God's Word, and feed others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

7. Never Take Your Eyes Off the Prize

Main Scripture: Hebrews 12:1–2 (KJV)

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The final and most important part of our spiritual marathon is never taking our eyes off the prize at the finish line.

Hebrews 12 tells us to lay aside the burdens and sins that hinder us and to run with patience the race set before us.

We must understand that God is with us regardless of what we are going through.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

He endured the cross so that His blood could cover our sins.

After enduring His crucifixion, He was seated at the right hand of God.

When we trust in Jesus Christ, our reward is eternal life with Him in heaven.

That is the reward of enduring this life and running our spiritual marathon.

We must never take our eyes off Jesus.

He should remain first and foremost in our lives.

Conclusion: Building Spiritual Endurance

To build endurance in our spiritual marathon, we must first have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

We must train through a daily walk with Him, continually praying and giving thanks in every situation.

We must remain motivated, even when our circumstances are difficult.

We must have strong hearts, loving others enough to tell them about the Lord and what He has done for us.

We must maintain a healthy spiritual diet by spending time in God's Word and sharing the Gospel with others.

Our church has a responsibility to feed people the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our online presence is another opportunity to reach people and share that message.

Above all, we must never take our eyes off the prize.

Our reward is Jesus Christ Himself.

Closing Invitation

There may be people facing difficult situations and battles in their lives who need God's help.

We can come before Him in prayer and ask for the strength to continue.

Some may be uncertain whether they have Jesus Christ in their hearts and lives.

The invitation is to ask Him for forgiveness, receive Him as Lord and Savior, and establish that foundation of faith.

Others may need guidance or adjustments in their daily walk with God.

We can ask Him to show us what we need to do.

And those experiencing blessings should remember to thank God for all He has done.

Whatever we are facing, we can come before the Lord in prayer.

Never take your eyes off Jesus Christ.