It should our constant desire to run our race with joy.

Unfortunately, even with good intentions, it’s easy to slip into grumbling and complaining if we’re not mindful of our heart disposition. For example, without thinking about it, we fuss about finances or lack of time to accomplish goals, and then justify our complaining. Sadly, this kind of mindless talk can hinder the plan of God in our life— all because of the murmuring of our heart.

Learn from the Israelites

One story that should cause us to pause and think more seriously about these things is the children of Israel in the wilderness. The Bible says, “It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by way of Mount Seir. In the fortieth year… Moses told the Israelites everything the Lord had commanded his to say to them…” (Deuteronomy 1:2-3). Big pause— Did you catch the fact that forty years after they left Egypt, the Israelites are still on their journey? A journey that was only supposed to take 11 days?

What would have possibly caused such an extreme delay? The Bible says it was their murmuring and complaining about every little thing. Instead of rejoicing and living thankful that they had been delivered from bondage and slavery, the people spoke against God, saying, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt…!” (Exodus 16:3).

It would be easy to judge them, but if we’re honest, we are just as guilty. Complaining describes any dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. Been there? (Lately?) I have. It can trickle out without thought. We can have good intentions and great plans, but if we let our heart get off-course, we may find ourselves going around the same mountain (or valley) repeatedly.

I think the writer of Ecclesiastes has some good advice: “Finishing [well] is better than starting. Patience is better than pride” (7:8).

Other translations read:
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Amplified).
“Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out” (Message).

One thing I don’t lack is persistence. In other words, when I start something, I will finish it. If I promise you (or myself) I’ll complete a task every week at the same time, you can count on it getting done. But sadly, I haven’t always done it with joy.

Even if I was able to hold my tongue (not complain verbally), my body language (or my face) has given me away. Realizing this  weakness has made me all the more determined to run my race with joy. I don’t want to hinder God’s plan in my life because of a little inconvenience to my flesh.

An opposite example of the Israelites long plight would be the Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 11:24-29 gives a long list of the things he endured for the sake of the gospel. And yet he said, “None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

I want to be like Paul.

Actually, Paul encouraged us to follow him as he followed Christ, so I want to be like Christ. “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he didn’t open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit for this very purpose: to be like Him. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. We just need to remember to ask Him for help.

I remind myself often: How can I testify of His grace in my life if I forget to operate in it every day when I’m tempted to do otherwise?

So the goal is not necessarily in how we start something, but how we run the race— and finish. We can carry the testimony of Paul: “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus…” –IN JOY!

Life is a journey. Let’s keep our eye on the prize. And remember, the end of a thing is better than its beginning.