I wanted to share a story for anyone struggling with their faith, questioning why certain things happen, and trying to understand God’s role in it all. Recently, I had a deep conversation with a close friend about life—our love lives, our careers, and everything in between. Eventually, we started talking about God and our faith journeys. She shared that she’s been struggling, especially when bad things happen. She lost a relative at the hands of a driver and couldn’t understand why God would allow something like that to happen.

To my surprise, I found myself explaining faith through an analogy that I want to share with you all: Faith is a marathon.

At the start line, we commit to strengthening our faith. We feel motivated, inspired, and ready to deepen our connection with God. But somewhere in the middle of the marathon, there’s a hurdle—Test #1. This is where life throws something at us: heartbreak, loss, failure. In that moment, we have two choices: rely on our faith or give up and blame God. If we choose the latter, we find ourselves back at the start line, having to rebuild our faith from scratch because we weren’t ready for the blessings that awaited us at the finish line.

But if we get over the first hurdle, we keep running. Then comes Hurdle #2—another challenge, another test of our faith. If we give up again, we’re back at square one. The cycle continues until we learn to trust that God is with us through every hurdle, every mile, every challenge. The blessings at the end of the marathon aren’t just given—they are earned through perseverance and unwavering faith.

But what about when tragedy strikes? What about when the loss is unbearable? This brings me to the reality of the world we live in: free will. We live in a world where not everyone believes in God. Not everyone lives by His word. It’s not realistic to expect a world where no one makes harmful choices. The driver who took my friend’s relative may have been under the influence, distracted, or reckless—whatever the reason, it was a decision made by a human being, not an act of God. Free will allows people to make choices, both good and bad, and sometimes, those choices lead to devastating consequences.

That’s the painful part of life—understanding that while God is always present, He does not control people like puppets. Some fall into circumstances that lead them down destructive paths. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s not proof that God has abandoned us. Rather, it is another hurdle in the marathon of faith, one that calls us to lean in closer rather than push away.

It wasn’t until I fully leaned on God that I started feeling blessed. I feel confident—like I have God on my side, and nothing can stop me. I went from negative self-talk to walking in my truth. I’m happy, I have a kind heart, I don’t take things personally, and when things go left, they don’t shake me up anymore. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” I now ask, “What is this teaching me?”

Faith is about trusting that God is with us, no matter where we are in our marathon. Some of us may be sprinting, full of energy and motivation. Others may be barely jogging, weighed down by struggles. Some may have even stopped, questioning if they should keep going at all. But no matter where you are, know that every hurdle is a lesson. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. And every step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to your blessings.

If you are struggling with your faith right now, I want you to know that you are not alone. Faith isn’t about never questioning, never struggling, or never experiencing pain. It’s about learning to keep running even when it hurts, even when it doesn’t make sense, even when you want to give up. Because at the end of this marathon, there’s something greater waiting—peace, understanding, and a deeper connection with God.

Keep running.