The Race Is Not Always to the Swift

Which is the most famous race you have ever enjoyed watching?

I know a lot of people love watching Formula 1, where Lewis Hamilton is one of the most famous names in the sport. Some love watching MotoGP, with Marc Márquez. Some love watching the 100-meter sprint final, where Usain Bolt is the name many people immediately think of. Others love horse racing, with names like Romantic Warrior becoming famous in the sport.

Have you ever heard of the Packwood Grand? If you ever get a chance, you must go and enjoy it. You will see wonderful people in great outfits, enjoy some really good food, and experience the excitement of horse racing. It is a unique event in the city of Calgary.

And if I had to pick one race to watch in this season of my life, it would certainly be horse racing.

Some people would have far greater knowledge of Formula 1 cars, MotoGP bikes, or horses. I can probably do a better job explaining a track athlete sprinting the 100 or 200 meters. However, one thing remains true across every race: we cannot always predict the outcome.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 puts it this way:

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”

That is a powerful reminder. The fastest person does not always win. The strongest person does not always prevail. The most prepared person does not always get the outcome they expected.

Things can change.

Race winners can change. Circumstances can change. And we cannot forget about injuries, unexpected setbacks, or opportunities that suddenly appear.

I recently pulled my hamstring during a soccer game. But before that, when I was on the track doing 150m × 6, I felt a little twitch in my hamstring during my last few reps. Sad!

But this isn’t new for me. The last time it happened was in 2023. Thankfully, it is not too bad. With a couple of weeks of rest and strength training, I should recover.

Yet the experience reminded me of something Ecclesiastes teaches us: we can prepare for the race, but we cannot control everything that happens in the race.

And this is where I want to encourage you.

The fact that you cannot always control the outcome does not mean you stop running the race.

You still train.
You still prepare.
You still run.
You still fight.
You still build.

You do your part faithfully, even when you cannot guarantee the result.

But here is what glues it all together: our lives are not held together by our wins; they are held together by our hope in Christ.

Hope reminds us that we are loved even when we lose. Hope reminds me that I may never be as fast as Usain Bolt, but I am still precious in the eyes of God. Hope gives us peace of mind and joy regardless of our wins or losses.

Never lose hope.

God is with you in your race whether you win or lose. Your performance may be applauded when you succeed, but your loss does not shrink the love of God for you.

You are more than your performance. You are more than your victories. You are more than your failures. Your identity is secure in Christ.

So get your head in the game. Run your race. Give your best. Prepare faithfully. But don’t let the outcome determine your worth.

Win with humility. Lose with hope.
And in both, keep your eyes on Christ.

Because the race is not always to the swift, and the outcome is not always in our hands. But our hope is secure in the One who holds us through every race.