Philippians 2:16 — Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
The air felt thick the moment I stepped out of the car in Start, Louisiana. I came expecting a small-town 5K, but the town had practically doubled in size.
Cars lined the road. People gathered in clusters. And I kept hearing one name—Hillary—spoken like everyone knew her.
That’s when the story started to come into focus. There is a pastor here—Jeff Thomas. He runs to support St. Jude. You see, his daughter, Hillary, died at five months old. She was on her way there for treatment, but she didn’t make it.
And somehow… Pastor Jeff kept running.
Not away from it—but straight through it. For her and for other families.
I saw Pastor Jeff out there running to remember his daughter and help other families. And all around him were others—locals, visitors, and strangers—moving in that same direction.
By the time it was over, I knew this was sacred.
It was about what happens when someone decides to keep going—and entrusts the ache to God. You see, we all carry things. Some of them heavy. Some of them unresolved. But there is a way to keep moving forward. Not by pretending it doesn’t hurt, and not by letting grief define the story, but by holding firmly to the word of God and continuing to live with hope.
And maybe that looks like one more step today. One step toward giving the hard things to a good God who can help you carry them.
And trusting that even now… none of it is in vain.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- What burden or grief have you been trying to carry on your own lately?
- What does it look like for you to “keep going” while still being honest about your pain?
- How can holding firmly to God’s Word help you endure this season with hope?
- Is there one step of faith or surrender God may be asking you to take today?
- Where have you seen God bring purpose or impact out of something painful in your life?
Want to Run with Pastor Jeff? Click for Details