Life Lessons from a Mud Run

This past weekend, some buddies of mine talked me into doing a “Mud Run” with them. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, basically you wake up early on a Saturday morning, put on some old clothes, meet up with some friends, and spend several hours running through mud, cold creeks, obstacles, and everything that nature has to throw at you. It’s crazy, and painful and AWESOME! By the end of it, you’re exhausted, bloody, and muddy but you feel an unbelievable sense of accomplishment.

As I’ve been resting my aging body and reflecting back on the experience, I’ve realized that this Mud Run has a lot of parallels to life, faith and marriage. There are going to be a lot of moments when life is muddy, difficult and filled with obstacles, but if we don’t quit, we can overcome! Here are a few principles that have come into focus for me.

1. We can’t win alone.

Many of the obstacles on the course were designed to be impossible to accomplish without your team helping you out, and the race wasn’t over until the entire team crossed the line. That’s a beautiful picture of marriage. We don’t win unless we win together and we can’t make it unless we’re helping each other along the way. Even if you’re unmarried, remember that God never intended for any of us to run the race of life alone. He wants us to work together with Him, and He is there by our side through it all carrying us when necessary.

2. Struggles create strength.

Our tendency in life is to avoid obstacles and to complain when we have to face them, but in this race, the obstacles defined the experience. Never see your obstacles as punishments or curses, but as opportunities to develop strength. Allow them to make you better, not bitter.

3. You can’t lose if you don’t quit. 

The only way to fail the race is to quit, and in life and marriage, that same principle usually holds true. Don’t give up! When you cross the finish line. you’ll be so glad that you didn’t give up. Quitting always leads to regret, but pushing through the pain and finishing strong always leads to joy.

4. The journey bonds you together.

My buddies and I are closer than ever because we conquered the course together. If we would have just spent the morning sipping coffee and talking about sports, the day would have already been forgotten, but now, we have an epic experience to share for years to come!

Whatever challenges you are facing right now in your relationships, finances, health or life in general, tackle those trials with courage and be willing to get muddy and bloody along the way. Our greatest breakthroughs usually happen outside our comfort zones! Once you cross the finish line, I can guarantee that you will feel incredible!