You’re Not Alone

It’s been a while since I felt inclined to share…not true, I often feel inclined to share but rarely have enough time too. One of my goals for September is to get back to sharing my thoughts regularly. Anywho, after my morning workout, I read the devotional below. I was reminded that throughout my personal faith journey, I am often confronted with the challenge of persevering through uncertain times. I’m no different from anyone else who has faced challenges but sometimes it definitely feels like it’s just me going through a preverbial hell. I am so grateful for my friends who continuously help me navigate the murky waters. They remind me that while our challenges make look different we all have them. It’s not comforting to know that your friends are suffering too but it is somewhat comforting to know you’re not alone.

Which brings me to today’s devotional…we are never alone. If we fix our eyes on Jesus we can overcome anything. He already ran the race and won! He is the blueprint for it all and a reminder that we too can overcome!

Scripture:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”– Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)

Devotional:

The mind wanders easily. It runs after distractions, reacts to fears, replays past mistakes, and clings to shame. Without direction, our thoughts can spiral into confusion or defeat. That’s why Scripture urges us to fix our eyes not on ourselves, our circumstances, or our sins but on Jesus.

Hebrews 12 paints a picture of a spiritual race. You’re not sprinting aimlessly; you’re running the race God has marked for you. But running with endurance requires more than just effort. It requires focus. The kind of focus that sees through the fog of doubt, pain, and temptation and locks in on Christ as the goal.

The phrase “fixing our eyes on Jesus” means to look away from everything else. It’s a determined gaze, not a casual glance. In the original Greek, the word for “fixing” (ἀφορῶντες – aphorōntes) carries the idea of concentrating attention by turning the eyes away from other things. To take every thought captive, we must first look away from the clutter and lock eyes with the One who leads us.

But who exactly is this Jesus we're looking at? The passage calls Him the “pioneer and perfecter of faith.” He’s not asking you to do something He hasn’t done. He went first. He ran the race. He endured betrayal, slander, pain, injustice, and the full weight of sin, yet He never lost focus. He saw the joy beyond the cross, and that future joy gave Him present endurance.

When our thoughts drift toward despair, fear, or self-reliance, we must return them to Him. Not just what He did but how He did it. He endured opposition. He scorned the shame. He kept going, knowing the joy that was coming. When we fix our eyes on Him, our perseverance is fueled by His example, and His victory secures our hope.

The passage also instructs us to throw off everything that hinders us. Some thoughts may not be outright sinful, but they’re still weights. Worry, comparison, overthinking, and busyness drag us down. They steal our mental energy and spiritual sharpness. These must be cast aside if we are to run freely.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus doesn’t mean we pretend the pain doesn’t exist. It means we look at Jesus through the pain. It doesn’t mean we ignore temptation but look to the One who overcame it. Even the chaos around us can’t pull us under when our gaze is fixed on Him. Our minds grow calmer, our thoughts more disciplined, and our faith stronger.

And the beautiful result? We won’t “grow weary and lose heart.” That’s what happens when we take our eyes off Jesus. We start to sink like Peter did when he focused on the storm instead of the Savior. But when we keep our eyes locked on Christ, we keep moving forward, even when the path is steep.

Today, fix your eyes not just once in the morning but throughout the day. When the lies start whispering, lift your gaze. When distractions creep in, refocus. Remember who Jesus is when sin entices you and what He’s already done for you. He’s not just your example; He’s your strength.

Prayer:

Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on you. In every moment of distraction, bring me back to your face. Teach me to run my race with endurance, just like you did. Remind me of the joy that’s coming and the victory that’s already mine in you. Clear my cluttered mind and fill it with your presence. I look to you, my Savior and King. It is in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

If you enjoyed this devotional feel free to follow the plan here!

Sidebar: I have been working out consistently at 4:45am again and each month I am working to add a new healthy habit. This month it is journaling… (Online and in my prayer book!)

What are you trying new?

P.S. I missed y’all! All y’all ready for more interviews?

🫶🏽 MichelleRena