Some mornings feel like a victory just to get your boots on.

Not because you don’t love God.

Not because you’ve quit believing.

But because you’re tired in places nobody can see.

Hebrews 12:1 says,

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

I love that word race — because it reminds me this life isn’t a sprint.

It’s a long obedience.

It’s steady footsteps.

It’s one faithful step after another.

Some of us get discouraged because we don’t feel fast.

But God never asked you to be fast.

He asked you to be faithful.

The verse says to lay aside every weight.

Notice it doesn’t just say sin.

It says weight.

Some things aren’t sinful…

They’re just heavy.

Regret can be heavy.

Bitterness can be heavy.

Guilt from things God already forgave can be heavy.

And God says, “You don’t have to keep carrying that.”

You weren’t created to run this race bent over and exhausted.

Then it says, “run with patience.”

Not panic.

Not pressure.

Not perfection.

Patience.

Meaning: keep showing up.

Keep trusting.

Keep walking with God even when you don’t feel strong.

And don’t forget the first part of the verse…

You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Heaven is cheering.

Jesus is interceding.

The Holy Spirit is empowering.

You are not running alone.

So if today all you can do is take one small step…

Take it.

If all you can do is whisper a prayer…

Whisper it.

If all you can do is hold on…

Hold on.

Because slow faith is still faith.

Steady faith is still faith.

And God honors every step taken toward Him.

Keep running, my friend.

Not in your strength.

But in His.

You’re closer than you think. 

Some of the heaviest things we carry in life can’t be seen.

You can’t put them in a wheelbarrow.

You can’t set them on a shelf.

You can’t weigh them on a scale.

But you can feel them… in your chest, in your thoughts, in the quiet moments when nobody else is around.

The Bible says in Proverbs 12:25 (KJV),

“Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”

That word stoop paints a picture.

It’s the picture of a person bent over by invisible weight.

Still showing up.

Still smiling.

Still functioning.

But carrying more than anyone realizes.

Maybe that’s you today.

Worried about your family.

Concerned about your health.

Tired of fighting the same battle.

Wondering how much longer you can hold on.

God doesn’t shame you for that heaviness.

He acknowledges it.

And then He offers a remedy.

A good word maketh it glad.

Not a perfect solution.

Not a sudden miracle.

Not a full explanation.

A good word.

One promise.

One reminder.

One scripture.

One whisper from heaven that says,

“I see you. I’m with you. You’re not alone.”

Sometimes God doesn’t remove the load immediately…

but He sends a word that gives you strength to lift your head again.

So let me offer you a good word today:

God is near.

God is faithful.

God is working, even when you can’t see it.

And this heaviness you feel?

It is not the end of your story.

Lift your eyes.

Take a breath.

Receive His word.

Because God still specializes in turning heavy hearts into hopeful ones.

Every now and then, life hands us a verse so simple… yet so searching… that it slips past our head and lands straight in our heart.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:12 (KJV):

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

That’s what we often call The Golden Rule.

But I don’t think Jesus meant it to be a slogan for a classroom wall.

I think He meant it to be a way of life.

Here’s the way I hear it in plain talk:

Treat people the way you hope God treats you.

Because if we’re honest…

We want grace when we mess up.

We want patience when we fall short.

We want mercy when we don’t deserve it.

We want someone to see our heart, not just our mistakes.

And Jesus says,

“Go ahead and live that out toward others.”

That means when someone is difficult…

You respond with kindness.

When someone is hurting…

You respond with compassion.

When someone fails…

You respond with grace.

Not because they earned it.

But because you’ve received it.

Living this verse doesn’t mean people will always treat you right.

But it does mean you get to live right.

And here’s the quiet miracle of it all:

When you start sowing kindness,

You begin reaping peace.

When you start sowing mercy,

You begin walking lighter.

When you start sowing grace,

You start looking a whole lot more like Jesus.

So today, before you speak… before you post… before you react…

Ask yourself one simple question:

“How would I want to be treated in this moment?”

Then do that.

Because when we live the Golden Rule,

We become golden reflections

of a gracious Savior.

And friend…

That kind of life

changes everything.