“Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.” Jeremiah 20:9
In an interesting Runner’s World story published recently, the writer shared three pieces of running advice he says changed his training for the better after speaking with more than fifty coaches. The takeaways were simple but profound: Plan your training for the year; ditch your watch for more than a day; and—most importantly—make sure you truly want to train for the race.
As an RRCA-certified coach myself, that third point stands out as the most critical for long-term success. The writer explained that nearly every coach he interviewed emphasized the same thing: Without an internal fire—an intrinsic reason for training—you won’t last. Race day may be special, but most of your time is spent in the grind of daily training.
You must fall in love with the work in front of you.
One quote in particular captured this idea. Jess Movold, an Austin-based strength and running coach, described moving from the half marathon to the full marathon this way: “There has to be an inner fire. There has to be an internal flame—your own Olympic torch that does not go out—that connects you to that distance and that deep desire to do it.”
Biblically speaking, that same kind of inner fire is what sustained Jeremiah—the “weeping prophet”—for forty years of faithful ministry. Jeremiah preached repentance to a sinful, crumbling Judah with little visible fruit. He was forbidden to marry or have children, abandoned by friends, mocked, punished, imprisoned, and opposed at every turn.
By any worldly standard, his ministry looked like failure.
At one point, the weight became so heavy that Jeremiah resolved to quit. He said, “I will not make mention of Him, [God] nor speak anymore in His name.” But something stronger than fear, discouragement, or isolation burned within him. His love for the Lord and for God’s people produced an irresistible compulsion to speak. God’s Word was not merely on his lips—it was alive within him. “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones… and I could not hold it back.”
Do you catch the force of that statement?
Jeremiah didn’t say he would not stop—he said he could not. His obedience flowed from an internal fire. Jeremiah understood that success is not measured the way the world measures it. God does not measure faithfulness by visible outcomes, applause, or ease. God measures success by obedience that is rooted in real love.
That truth finds its fullest expression in the Gospel:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16–17
Remember, God’s love for you was so great that He gave His Son—not so you could perform for Him, but so you could be born again and have His love within you. From His salvation, HIS love flows and creates an internal fire to serve Him faithfully, no matter what opposition, disappointment, or weariness comes your way.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You do not measure success the way the world does. Help us remember that this life is fleeting, and only what is done for You has eternal value. Place within us a burning fire shut up in our bones—an unquenchable desire to obey You and fulfill whatever mission You have entrusted to us. Thank You for sending Jesus to provide forgiveness for our sins. May our love for You grow stronger each day. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Happy running.
Melissa Sharp is an ultra runner and running coach who has completed more than 100 marathons and ultra marathons. Melissa has learned how to keep running the race of life for the glory of Christ even though she endured decades of domestic abuse. Melissa is a survivor. Through her daily blog thejoyfilledrunner she inspires others to live in the strength of Christ.
