Happy Mother’s Day! In memory of my sweet mom, I’m sharing a devotion about fighting the good fight and finishing well. My mom certainly lived this out, and she received her crown of righteousness in 2009.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT)
When I was 22, 2 Timothy 4:7 seemed easy. Sure, fight the good fight, finish the race. I’ve got this, how had hard can it be?
Fast forward to 2019, and at 52 years old, the fight has been harder than I expected. The race has been full of rocks, and mud and more rough roads than I ever imagined.
In some ways, I understand Paul a little bit better now. Paul did not preach a prosperity gospel. Paul was real, he was honest, and he knew we would need the encouragement on this journey with Christ.
So here are 3 things I think we can all learn from Paul:
1. We Are All Fighting Battles. It’s often said, that we’re in the middle of a difficult season, we’re about to be in a difficult season, or we just got out of a difficult season. Scripture says in Matthew 5;45, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
What are you facing today, a broken marriage, a scary health diagnosis, a child that has turned into the prodigal, maybe you’re dealing with aging parents and decisions that are hard.
Whatever the battle, let me remind you, not only is Jesus cheering you on, but you have a cloud of witnesses cheering you on.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1
In demanding and stressful seasons, don’t give up! Run this race with endurance. You aren’t the one person who has done more than what God can forgive, or you haven’t gone through the one thing that God can’t redeem.
2. We Need to Finish Well. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7, I kept the faith. Paul finished well, and it wasn’t easy. He faced more on his journey than most of us will ever have to face, but he kept going.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NLT) says, Finishing is better than starting. How we finish, this journey is important. Finish strong, keep fighting, don’t give up. Your reward is waiting.
3. We Have a Crown Of Righteousness Waiting For Us. Trials are a part of this journey, but Paul tells us the fight is worth it and one day we will receive the crown of righteousness. Whatever we face, whether it’s brokenness, discouragement, loss, we must remember that the best is yet to come. We will see Jesus and live with Him forever.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4 (NLT)
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Thank you for this post, I really needed to see this today. I lost my Mom last August and it has been so very hard, and especially on Mother’s Day. But I know she is now with the Lord and without pain. I love all the scripture verses you post each day!
Thank you. I really needed this. Just this weekend we had to make hard decisions for my elderly mom with dementia and move her and my health with migraines is and has been so bad for years. I want to finish the race strong but I’m weary and long to be healed from these chronic migraines. I’m so discouraged and this post was helpful. God is faithful I know and I have to trust He knows.
Cyndi,
Thank you so much for the reminder. Your post was so meaningful to me that i’m printing it off to put in my prayer notebook for when i need encouragement.
Hi Cindi-just read “fighting the good fight” and would like prayer for my prodigal son. This has been a difficult and long season for my husband and I. He was raised in the faith and then when he graduated high school in 2011, it happened to us. No christian parents feel equipped to handle this season. But our Lord can-just pray for strength for us to win the battle. His name is Ryan. Grace to you and your family on this Mothers day.
Cyndi,
Thank you so much for this post. I lost my Mom 8 years ago and I lost a cousin, who was like a mom, just yesterday.
I really needed to hear your and God’s message as I have had a very difficult 24 hours. Thank you for the encouragement!
Cyndi, thank you so much for sharing this today. I really needed it. You sure encouraged this discouraged lady!❤️
I love these scripture passages and I love reading your blog. You are such an inspiration to me on a daily basis. Thank you for always being on point and sharing the message of Jesuses unconditional love along the way.
In His love, Alecia
Thank you for being real ❤️
Thanks for this encouragingmessage!
Hi Cyndi, I really needed to hear your Mothers day message today. I have 3 grown children, and this is the first mothers day in 50 years that I have spent alone. I won’t lie, it has been a very sad day for me. I write this with tears in my eyes. Life is hard!!! But I want to finish this race strong. And I do feel my Mother in Heaven leaning over and cheering me on. Thank you.
Great message. I needed some inspiration today.
Happy Mother’s Day!! Have a fantastic day!! Thanks for today’s beautiful devotion!!!💐😊
Cyndi, you message today brings hope to all of us facing hard times!! You are an amazing, beautiful lady inside and out!!!
Thank you for such a heartfelt message. Happy Mothers Day 💖💐🦋
Great message you shared with us, Cyndi. Have a beautiful Mother’s Day with your family! 💕
Thank you for beautiful post,Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks for your words of encouragement today and that song is a favorite of mine!
Happy mother’s day,thank you for today’s post.
Happy Mother’s Day to you and all your beautiful followers! May God bless you all today. Thx for your encouraging words Cyndi. Have a blessed day!
Thank you for your encouraging words.
Happy Mother’s Day!! 🌹
All I can say is … AMEN! Thank you for speaking the truth of God’s Word as well as your heart.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! You are amazing, strong, beautiful, and loved!
Thanks so much for your encouraging words. Hope your Mothers Day was great! I appreciate you.
Love your post-thank you Cyndi! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Your post was beautiful. Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you for this encouragement! I hope you have a Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to a great one!
Thank you for this beautiful and encouraging post.
Thank you for this beautiful post and acknowledging living a life of faith is full of trials. Not everything is rainbows and sunshine on this Earth!I have a prodigal son and just recently having to make decisions for aging parents. I am so happy you get to spend Mother’s Day with your family. God bless you 💞
Thanks cyndi!
I have also lost my mom but I know heaven has gained an angel!
God bless your home and business!
Thank you for that beautiful post today! Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you so much. I miss my Mom so much today and every day.
I just wanted to say thanks for the posting today. It touched me in my heart, and gave me some reminders. Thanks again for saying some of the words that I needed to hear. Have a blessed day!