For some unknown reason, I decided to attempt the Honolulu Marathon.

At a training clinic last March, we slowly jogged three miles. It seemed like it would never end. I was disheartened. I used to run five miles with ease. Why did three miles seem so difficult?

In Hebrews 12, the Christian life is compared to a long-distance race. We are encouraged to "run with perseverance."

Marathon training and a successful Christian life have many similarities.

After months of training, I am now logging 50 miles weekly for the marathon, but it hasn't been a breeze. With perseverance, however, the 3-mile and 6-mile treks seem like easy jaunts. Christians also need endurance training to persevere. It is not easy, and doesn't happen overnight or by accident. It's deliberate. It requires faith, Bible study, prayer and fellowship.

We also need a goal. As I jog countless miles, I think of the exhilaration of crossing the marathon finish line. As Christians, we "fix our eyes upon Jesus." Why? Because when everything is falling apart, if our focus is on Jesus, the surrounding circumstances will not overwhelm us. Just as Peter could walk on the turbulent water as long as his focus was on Christ, we draw strength and encouragement from Christ. We also fix our eyes upon our goal so that we are not tempted to quit when the going gets tough — and it will get tough.

Shortly after I began training for the marathon, I got the worst cold ever. I missed three weeks of training.

"I should drop out," I said to my husband when the 26.2 marathon miles seemed like an unattainable goal. " ... I must have been crazy to think I could finish the marathon."

"You can do it and I will be waiting for you at the finish line," he said.

Then I remembered cheering as a friend finished the race last year. The air was filled with energy. I visualized it all and my excitement returned.

Christians get discouraged by ourselves, others and circumstances. It seems easier to quit and pretend we never were in the race.

Early Christians also were tempted to drop out. They were whipped, shunned, imprisoned and martyred. When we feel like giving in, we "consider him" (Hebrews 12:3) so that we do not lose heart. We remember what he has done and what the Christians before us have done. We also "throw off everything that hinders us." (Hebrews 12:1)

It takes many hours each week to train for the marathon. We need to make some very hard decisions. Some activities or projects need to be discarded. Our Christian training should also include a serious evaluation of what we watch on television, what we read, our friendships, the music we listen to and our thought life. It's deliberate.

We need to visualize the excitement at the finish line and get re-energized in our Christian "marathon" training.

Jacque Martin attends New Hope Christian Fellowship - Leeward.