A marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards. Each year, more than 800 marathons are held throughout the world. Larger marathons can draw tens of thousands of participants. And every one of those runners has two things on his or her mind during the entire race – pain and the finish line.
Life is a marathon. And no marathon was ever intended to be easy. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, and it won’t be easy for you.
And recovery is a marathon, only longer. It is a race with no end. You can be winning, but you never win. Until you can say, “It is finished.”
Jesus said, “It is finished.” And then he died. But you aren’t there yet. So keep running, not because it is easy, but because it is worth it.
Recovery Step: Fight the good fight. Stay in the race. Then, when the day comes, you can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
