"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT).
My lungs burned. I didn’t think I would make it. Each exhausting step made it clear I hadn’t trained enough for my first half-marathon.
I was on mile 11 of 13.1. The spectators lining the streets could see my struggle. One person shouted, “You’re doing great! You’re almost there!” And then another and another.
Except I wasn’t almost there. I was 2 miles away. To me, finishing sounded about as easy as pole vaulting over the moon.
I realize how ungrateful this will make me sound, but every time someone told me I was “almost there,” my whiny self wanted to shout back, “No, I’m not!”
Just then, I saw a dude dressed up like a clown waving a sign that said, “You are NOT almost there!” Even though my lungs hurt, I laughed out loud. The clown ran onto the route, running alongside me until I got to the top of the hill. He encouraged me with every step.
Perhaps oddly, this was the precise motivation I needed. That clown knew what I needed to hear: that the finish line was nowhere in sight but finishing was possible if I kept moving forward.
Two miles later, my “not almost there” turned into “I’m finally here!”
What’s true on a half-marathon course is true in life. We find ourselves trudging along wearily, and that’s when we “almost there” ourselves, wondering if we should be further along. The healing hasn’t happened. The prayer hasn’t been answered. Hard work hasn’t paid off.
When we’re barely able to take another step, we don’t need false assurances. More than anything, we need someone to remind us that almost everything in life … takes time.
That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul reminds us — without the clown costume, of course — in Philippians 3:13-14:
“I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
When Paul said, “I have not achieved it,” he meant that becoming like Jesus is a lifelong journey, taken step by step. And the only way to finish is to “press on” in faith.
That’s true in our spirituality, relationships, businesses, and even our healing and grieving. Most things take time.
In a way, that’s really good news. Because when we are trudging up the hills of this life — when everything hurts and we want to quit — we’ll find Jesus right beside us. Even though we’re miles from the destination, Jesus gives us courage to press on. And He will take every step alongside us.
Dear Lord, when life gets hard and the finish line seems miles away, I want to know You’re here. I ask for Your strength to press on until the very end. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey of learning to trust Him with things we care most about. When we're trying to fix people, manage outcomes, or figure everything out, anxiety overcomes us as we fear the future instead of faithfully take the next step God has for us today. In Season 13 of the Therapy & Theology podcast, Lysa TerKeurst, counselor Jim Cress, and Dr. Joel Muddamalle unpack how releasing control can bring the very peace we've been searching for. Start listening to these conversations now!
Jennifer Dukes Lee is an author, speaker, and self-described “morning evangelist” encouraging women to meet God in the middle of their real, imperfect mornings. Connect with Jennifer on Instagram, where she helps you meet Jesus at the start of each new day.
2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (NLT).
Where in your life do you need encouragement that you don’t have to be further along than you already are? How does it help you today to know that God isn’t rushing you? Share your thoughts in the comments, and take a moment to remind someone else that God isn’t rushing them either.
© 2026 by Jennifer Dukes Lee. All rights reserved.
What We Believe
If your life feels too overwhelming, click here for our care and counseling resources.
Join the Conversation