March 18, 2025

Led by: Millie

On the evening of March 18, 2025, a small but eager group gathered in the fellowship hall of Towson Grace Church for their weekly Bible study. The room was filled with warmth as people found their seats, greeting each other with smiles and small talk. At the front stood Millie, a longtime member of the church, known for her wisdom and passion for teaching God’s Word.

“Tonight,” Millie began, “I want to share a story that I think will encourage all of us, no matter where we are in our journey of faith.”

She paused for a moment, then continued, “This is the story of Lily, a young woman from right here in Towson, Maryland, who learned a powerful lesson about perseverance, purpose, and selflessness.”

Lily’s Race of Faith

Lily had always been a runner. From the time she was a little girl, she loved the feeling of the wind rushing past her as her feet hit the pavement. Running gave her joy, freedom, and confidence. Over the years, she began competing in races, always dreaming of pushing herself further. One day, she set her sights on something bigger—a triathlon.

But there was one problem. A triathlon wasn’t just about running. It required cycling and swimming as well, and Lily had never trained in either.

Not wanting to give up on her dream, she sought advice from a local trainer, who encouraged her to start cycling. This new challenge excited her, and she quickly embraced the training. But swimming? That was another story.

Swimming made her nervous. She had never been confident in the water, and every training session left her exhausted and discouraged. Doubts crept in. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this,” she thought.

But Lily’s family wouldn’t let her quit. “You’ve come this far,” her mother told her. “God doesn’t give us dreams without also giving us the strength to pursue them.”

Encouraged by her loved ones, Lily kept going. She trained tirelessly, day after day, pushing herself beyond what she thought was possible.

Months passed. The big race was drawing near. And while Lily had improved tremendously, she knew deep down that swimming remained her weakest link. Still, she refused to let fear define her. Instead, she found another way to make an impact.

She began coaching others in triathlon training, especially those who, like her, struggled with certain aspects of the sport. She helped them develop their endurance, encouraged them when they wanted to quit, and showed them that faith and perseverance go hand in hand.

Her first team trained hard under her guidance, and when they competed in a local event, they performed exceptionally well. Seeing her team succeed filled Lily with a sense of purpose greater than personal victory. She wasn’t just training for herself anymore—she was inspiring others to believe in themselves.

The Unexpected Challenge

Finally, race day arrived. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as competitors prepared for the challenge ahead. Lily felt nervous but ready. She had trained, she had prayed, and she had given it her all.

The starting horn sounded, and off she went. She powered through the swimming portion, pushed through the cycling stage, and reached the final leg—the run. This was her strength. This was her moment.

But then, just as she hit her stride, something unexpected happened. A sharp pain shot through her leg. She stumbled. Her knee gave out. She collapsed onto the pavement.

Spectators gasped. Officials rushed toward her. She tried to stand, but the pain was too intense. Tears filled her eyes as she realized—she wouldn’t be able to finish.

Disappointment hit her like a wave. “Lord, why now?” she thought.

Then, just as she was about to signal that she was out of the race, she saw another runner struggling a few feet ahead. It was a younger athlete, exhausted and on the verge of quitting.

Something stirred in Lily’s heart.

She may not have been able to finish the race for herself, but she could still help someone else finish theirs.

Summoning all her strength, Lily got up and limped toward the struggling runner. She placed a supportive arm around her and encouraged her forward. “You can do this,” she whispered.

Together, they crossed the finish line.

The crowd erupted in applause—not because Lily had won, but because she had shown what true victory looked like.

A Lesson in Faith and Selflessness

As Millie finished the story, she looked around at the Bible study group. The room was silent, filled with reflection. Then she opened her Bible and read aloud:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7

“Lily didn’t finish the race the way she had planned,” Millie said, “but she finished the race God had set before her. She helped someone else cross the finish line, and in doing so, she fulfilled something even greater than personal victory.”

She then turned to Ecclesiastes 9:11:

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.”

“This verse reminds us that winning in life isn’t about being the fastest or the strongest. It’s about endurance. It’s about faith. It’s about trusting God’s plan—even when things don’t go the way we expected.”

Faith in Action

Millie then pulled up a website on her tablet and turned it to the group. Active.com, a popular fitness and training site, had published an article about triathlons. It talked about the importance of perseverance, training smart, and finding motivation.

“This website teaches people how to train for races like Lily’s,” Millie explained. “But the most important thing we can train is our faith.”

She pointed to the final verse of the night, Galatians 6:9:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

“Lily didn’t give up on her training, and she didn’t give up when things got tough. But most importantly, she didn’t grow weary in doing good. She put someone else’s needs above her own, and that’s what made her truly victorious.”

Applying the Lesson

Millie closed the Bible and looked at the group.

“So I ask you all—what race are you running? Maybe you’ve been training for something, working toward a goal, and now you’re facing setbacks. Maybe you feel like you’re failing. Maybe you’re questioning whether it’s all worth it.”

She smiled gently.

“Let me remind you—God sees your effort. And even if your journey doesn’t go as planned, He has a greater purpose. Maybe your victory won’t come through personal success but through the impact you make on others.”

That night, as the Bible study ended, many left feeling encouraged. Lily’s story had reminded them that faith isn’t just about finishing first. It’s about perseverance, trust, and most importantly, love—the kind of love that lifts others up, even when we are struggling ourselves.

And that, Millie knew, was the greatest race of all.