When You Need To Just Run Through The Pain

“One more kilometer to go, oh God, please help me do this.” My stomach was cramping from a recent bout with food poisoning. I was weaker than normal, but my heart was set on completing the race. My husband, running alongside me said, “Run through the pain, honey, you can do it.” The finish line came into view. With my faithful partner graciously running by my side, I gave it all I had. In distance races, but even more, in life, many times we just have to run through the pain.

What does that mean? How do you know when to keep going and when to stop to rest and recuperate? Or even quit?

Missionary life comes with serious challenges and trials. We face very real spiritual attacks on top of all the other normal things that happen. If we happen to be in positions of leadership, we face criticism and are often misunderstood. This is especially true as we innovate, lead and pursue God’s dreams.

There is indeed a delicate balance needed. We must take good care of our souls and bodies, while also persevering through the hardships. Refuse to give up, until you have seen the fullness of what He has promised come to pass.

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Phil. 4:13 NIV

3 Situations When You Should Never Quit

1) Don’t quit when you are facing spiritual warfare.

It isn’t easy to discern; what is spiritual warfare, what is sin in our lives (or others), and what is simply life in this broken world.

I am not one to blame every problem on the devil. Many difficulties come from our own mistakes or are just life. But there are times when we must be aware that we face a very real spiritual enemy. He seeks to destroy our lives and Kingdom work. We should not be ignorant to his lies and attack.

When you seem to be facing unusual things going wrong, it could be spiritual warfare. When the timing of unusual problems links to new efforts, it almost certainly is the enemy. When there is a mental attack, a barrage of thoughts that are not in line with Scripture, demonic forces are at work.

In these times, we must “resist the enemy” by intentionally deciding to continue. We run through the pain.

2) Don’t quit when you know you are doing a God Assignment.

I’m not saying you should try to do things in your own strength. We can’t “run through the pain” on our own. We need His help. He is the one who enables us to keep going. But our attitude and decisions about this matter. When we decide to keep going, He releases the power within us to do so.

If God has called you to do something and you know it, then refuse to quit until you complete that task. Let’s be honest. Not everything we do is a God assignment. Some things we do are just good things, not God things. You know the difference.

Did you have a specific “word of the Lord” to pursue this thing you are trying to do? Go back to the promises and words He gave you and stand on them. Fight for them. Refuse to give in to despair and take a step forward, even if it is a tiny step. Step by step, God will lead you on. He will help you continue to run.

3) Don’t quit when your emotions are raw.

This is one that I’ve learned with years of experience. My missionary mom taught me this.

Never write that resignation letter at night when you are exhausted. For women, never quit when your hormones are going crazy. Let things sit. Calm down a bit first. Take a few days off to rest before making sudden decisions.

Avoid the tragedy of losing your calling by making an emotionally based decision. Remember Esau’s decision to trade his birthright for a bowl of stew? He was hungry, tired and grumpy. We get that way. But that isn’t when we should make important decisions.

Maybe someone just criticized you once again as a leader. You’ve had it! Wait. Don’t give up yet. Let some time pass.

Or maybe you got malaria, again. It’s the third time now. Your home country is looking pretty attractive. Supporters are encouraging you to consider doing something else with your life.

Wait until you’ve recovered, before you make that choice. For now, you must choose to endure. (I’m not saying you shouldn’t leave and seek medical care if needed. Just don’t decide in the midst of the sickness to stop being a missionary).

In many circumstances, you need to run through the pain and just keep going. Do the next thing in front of you. In spite of the fact that you don’t feel like it. Go visit that sick baby. Read your Bible anyway. Show up at that meeting and just be there even if you can’t contribute much. That is running through the pain.

When you are weak, He will be strong within you. So many times, when I have been weakest, His glory has shown most brightly through me ( 2 Cor. 12:9).

His Grace is Enough

Whatever you are facing today, His strength and grace are enough to sustain you. He is with you today. God will not leave you or forsake you. Let Him come and fill you with the strength you need to “run through your pain” today. And tomorrow. And the next day. Until you reach the finish line of the current challenge. It’s not that far away. The end is in sight. Press on.